New Democrats ask RCMP if they'll reopen Senate-expenses probe

The federal New Democrats are asking ifthe Mounties willreopen their investigation into Nigel Wright,Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, and expandit to include Ray Novak, the most senior official in the prime minister's office, as well asother senior Conservatives in Harper's inner circle in light of new evidence filed in an Ottawa court room.

The questioncomes as Wright's testimony inthe high-profile criminal case against Senator MikeDuffy revealed on Tuesday thathe is stillin touch withNovak, Harper's current chief of staff.

Duffyhas pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related toexpenses he claimed in 2013 as a senator and later repaid with a$90,000 chequefrom Wright.

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Wright said under cross-examination by the defencethathe wasin contact withHarper's right-hand manas recently as two weeks ago, around the time the federal election was called.

The court heard againtodaythatNovak was in the loop of Wright's payment for Duffy's ineligible Senate expenses.

Last week, the court heard evidencethat NovakandBenjamin Perrin, then-lawyer for the Prime Minister's Office, werecopied on a 2013emailfrom Wright that said:"I will send my cheque on Monday."

Harper, who faced persistent questions about the Wright-Duffy affair again today, has so farrefused to acknowledge Novak'sinvolvementin a scheme to make Duffy's senate expenses problems go awaysaying that the two individuals responsible Duffy and Wright are being held accountable.

The Conservative Leader maintainshe was not told that his former chief of staff would be the one repaying Duffy's expenses.

'Clear response' sought from Mounties

NDP LeaderTomMulcairsaid during an afternooncampaign stop inParksville, B.C.,that the New Democrats are asking theRCMPto "take a new look" and expect to receive "a clear response" from Paulson.

In a letter toRCMPCommissioner Bob Paulson, the NDP's Charlie Angus says: "I am writing to ask whether the RCMP will now be laying charges against Nigel Wright.

"I am also asking, based on this new information, whether Ray Novak or any other staff working in the Prime Minister's office should be investigated for their role working with Mr. Wright in relation to this matter."

Evidence filed in court shows thatsenior staff in the Prime Minister's Office were working closely with Conservative senators to have Wright repay Duffy's expenses, in exchange for the senator saying he'd repaid them himself.

Wright denies meddling with audit

The Mountiescharged Duffy with 31 charges related to Senate expenses but said last year that the evidence gathered in the course of their investigation did "not support criminal charges"against Mr. Wright.

"Since then, significant new evidence has come to light at trial that raises new questions about Mr. Wright's role in this scandal," said Angus in his letterto theRCMP.

"Evidence at trial points to over a dozen peopleinvolved in a plan to make a secret payment to a sitting Senator, have him make intentionally misleading statements to the public, and interfere with an independent audit," Angus wrote.

Wrightdenied under cross-examinationon Tuesday meddlingwith an independent audit tasked with looking into the residency and expense claims of senators.

The RCMP confirmed in an email to CBC News on Tuesday that the investigation into allegations of fraud and breach of trust against Senator Pamela Wallin's Senate expenses "is still ongoing."

No charges have been laid against Wallin and none of the allegations have been proven in court.