Canada’s increasingly maligned Senate and the governing Conservative Party have suffered another blow as the country prepares for a general election in the fall.
Tory appointed Senator Don Meredith was kicked out of the party’s caucus on Wednesday after the Toronto Star newspaper reported allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.
Meredith, who was appointed by Prime Minister Harper in 2010, becomes the fourth Conservative senator to leave the Tory caucus in controversy in the past 18th months.
He follows Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, all of whom left for allegedly cheating on expense accounts. Duffy is currently on trial in Ottawa.
Meredith has not responded publicly to the allegations.
Earlier this month, CTV News reported that Meredith faces allegations of verbal abuse, sexual harassment and bullying from members of his staff.
The Toronto Star story says the woman, who is now 18, had explicit online chats with Meredith that began when she was 16. The story says those progressed to kissing and touching before she turned 18.
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