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The pair were then escorted from the legislature by police. As he was leaving the building, James told reporters he didn’t know the reason why he was placed on leave.

Reached Wednesday night about the allegations, James said he had no comment.

Lenz has not commented since his suspension and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Photo by Dirk Meissner / THE CANADIAN PRESS

At this stage of the investigation there are no other suspects, one source said. There have been no arrests and no charges have been filed or tested in court. Indeed, charges may never be laid.

British Columbians will recall the scathing indictment by B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke of the then Liberal government’s firing in 2012 of eight researches with the Ministry of Health. The government claimed the eight were being investigated for the misuse of public health data. No charges were ever laid and, in his December 2017 report, Chalke found that none of the researchers deserved to be fired. The government eventually apologized to them all.

Two special prosecutors — David Butcher and Brock Martland — have been assigned to help RCMP investigators with legal advice, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.

“Given the potential size and scope of the investigation,” B.C.’s assistant deputy attorney general, Peter Juk, decided to go with two special prosecutors, the service said Tuesday.

Special prosecutors are appointed in cases “where some aspect of an investigation, or prosecution file, carries a significant potential for real or perceived improper influence in prosecutorial decision making.” They work independently of the government or ministry of the attorney general.