Former senator Don Meredith acquitted on all counts of sexual assault, harassment

OTTAWA — Former senator Don Meredith was found not guilty of all charges of sexual assault and criminal harassment that were brought forward by a former employee, according to a decision read by Superior Court Justice Narissa Somji on Wednesday.

The complainant, who is protected by a publication ban and therefore cannot be named, alleged that she was subject to constant fondling, unwanted touching and threatening remarks by Meredith over a period of six months when working for him over a decade ago.

When delivering her decision in Ottawa, the judge said she found “inconsistencies” which undermined the reliability of the complainant’s account, whereas she found Meredith’s evidence “to be straightforward and clear” and “not shaken” during cross-examination.

“The primary issue at trial is whether the Crown has proved beyond a reasonable doubt whether the offences occurred,” said Somji.

Meredith, a Pentecostal minister from Toronto, was appointed to the Senate by former prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010 and resigned from the upper chamber in 2017 after it was revealed that he had a sexual relationship with an underage girl.

He also faced allegations of harassment, including from a sexual nature, to abuse of authority including were the object of two separate reports. Ultimately, the Senate paid nearly half-a-million dollars to his former employees, including the complainant.

During the course of the trial, Meredith denied all of the complainant’s allegations and expressed relief after the decision that this “cloud has been lifted” on him.

“Firstly, I want to thank my family. I want to thank God for this day that has come. It’s been several years of testing me and my family, and I’m glad that this day is finally over,” he said.

Meredith also thanked his lawyer. He said he did not have a message for his former employee in the trial.

The Crown did not offer any comment.

More details to come…

National Post calevesque@postmedia.com

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