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In February, after Rae apologized in the House of Commons for Carroll’s conduct, Toews took to Twitter to accuse Trudeau of knowing too much about the account to be an “innocent bystander” and keeping silent on Carroll’s identity.

Trudeau had participated in a Twitter campaign entitled #TellVicEverything that followed the emergence of Vikileaks30 and saw Twitter users post random information about their activities. Trudeau conceded he tweeted about Vikileaks but said he never endorsed it.

Toew’s office accused the Liberals of knowing all along that Carroll was behind Vikileaks.

“This dramatic reversal by the Liberal party suggests that Carroll acted with the full knowledge and consent of the senior ranks of the Liberal party,” Toews spokesman Mike Mueller said in an email.

“It’s clear now more than ever that Mr. Carroll did not act alone, as he claimed.”

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Mueller also called on those who are contemplating a run for the Liberal leadership to disclose what, if anything, they knew about Carroll’s role in the Vikileaks episode.

“Justin Trudeau and all Liberal leadership candidates must come clean immediately,” he said. “Who knew about the sleazy Internet smear? What deal was struck with Adam Carroll to take the fall? Will they continue engaging in sleazy tricks and only apologize when they get caught?”

Carroll told a parliamentary committee this spring that he set up the Twitter account in direct response to the Conservative government’s online surveillance legislation. He also insisted that he acted alone.

With files from The Canadian Press