OTTAWA—He is the party frontman, the bon vivant emcee and fundraising favourite.

Broadcaster turned Senator Mike Duffy has brought the Conservatives political currency they needed — the credibility of a mainstream media personality who heartily endorses the Stephen Harper agenda.

Since his Senate appointment in 2008, Duffy has become one of the most popular crowd draws for countless Conservative MPs’ fundraising dinners across the country.

One MP told the Star that Duffy packs rooms like no one other than the Prime Minister.

He plays up his journalist credentials. At the 2011 national Conservative policy convention, Duffy donned the role of “reporter” on the floor, with his image broadcast on giant video screens to a couple of thousand in the Ottawa convention hall as he conducted “interviews” with Conservative party figures and delegates.

Although Duffy long ago gave up journalistic objectivity for political power, he remains in the eyes of many Canadians a trusted figure — and that is a currency valuable for Harper.

All that gives Duffy some protection, even as he comes under increasing scrutiny over his residency claims and expenses.

The Senate confirmed Friday that it has called in outside auditors to probe Duffy’s expenses and those of two other senators, as well as their claims that their main residences are outside Ottawa.

Duffy, who represents Prince Edward Island, Patrick Brazeau (Quebec) and Mac Harb (Ontario) have claimed their principal residence is outside the national capital region, entitling them to housing allowances of up $22,000 a year.

After an initial review of the claims, the Senate committee that oversees the budgets for the upper chamber is now seeking the advice of Deloitte, a major professional services consultancy.

The committee is also seeking legal advice on Duffy’s claims that his principal residence is a home in P.E.I. and not the house he owns in suburban Ottawa.

“This has to be cleaned up for Senator Duffy’s purposes and for the Senate’s purposes. That’s why it’s referred,” said Senator David Tkachuk, chair of the Senate’s committee on internal economy, budgets and administration

He said the Senate also decided to seek outside advice to address complaints that senators were investigating themselves.

“I’m his friend as well as his colleague. Better that he deal with Deloitte,” Tkachuk told the Star.

The issue goes beyond expenses. A condition of sitting in the Senate is that the politician must be a resident of the province he or she represents. On Friday, the NDP raised questions about Senator Pamela Wallin, who represents Saskatchewan but also owns a residence in Toronto.

“In addition to Senator Brazeau, we have Liberal Senator Mac Harb claiming a housing allowance despite living here for decades. Fictional P.E.I.er Mike Duffy literally runs through kitchens to avoid answering questions about his residency. Now Pamela Wallin refuses to confirm whether she lives in Saskatchewan or not,” said NDP MP Dan Harris.

But in a statement to the Star Wallin said she complies with the Senate rules: “I am in compliance with the constitutional requirements to serve as a senator. Saskatchewan is my home and I have owned property there for many years.”

Tkachuk said the Senate committee is hoping to clarify the residency rules, which he said are confusing.

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“The question of residency as gotten extremely complicated … We’re sitting back there reading the Constitution thinking this is pretty fuzzy.”

Duffy, who earlier this week ducked reporters on the issue, said he too is abiding by the Senate rules, calling himself a “Prince Edward Islander, born and bred.”

“I represent taxpayers with care, and Canadians know I would never do anything to betray the public trust,” he said in a statement Friday. “I have a home in Prince Edward Island as required by law. I will have no further comment until this review is complete.”

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