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Trudeau had been approached on Oct. 28 by a female NDP MP in Hamilton, where they had attended a funeral for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.

Trudeau then instructed his party whip, Judy Foote, to look into the matter. She held a meeting on Oct. 30 with Turmel and the two NDP MPs, who outlined allegations against Pacetti and Andrews.

What happened at that meeting is now central to the political storm brewing on Parliament Hill. Trudeau’s staff and MPs say he had no option but to go public with the allegations and to suspend his Pacetti and Andrews so an investigation could occur.

But Turmel said Monday that the two NDP MPs left no doubt during the meeting what they wanted.

None of the women were aware that it (would) come out. They were expecting a bit of respect. And a bit of respect meant that they should have known or they should have been informed what was the next step

“People were clear, both of them,” said Turmel.

“They were clear they did not want to put a complaint in. They were meeting with her (Foote) to give her the situation and that’s it. They said, ‘It’s up to you. We are not putting a complaint in.’”

She said the women needed time to “find a way to heal” from the alleged misconduct.

“That’s what they are facing now. And that’s why they don’t want this to go on. They just want to go on with their lives.”

Turmel said that both she and the MPs were angry when they learned on Nov. 5, through social media, that their allegations had prompted Trudeau to go public.

“None of the women were aware that it [would] come out. They were expecting a bit of respect. And a bit of respect meant that they should have known or they should have been informed what was the next step.”