Judge lifts ban on most of Chuck Guite’s sponsorship testimony

Justice Gomery has released some of the testimony (from a publication ban) of Canadian Adscam Scandel witness and retired bureaucrat Chuck Guite who ran the federal sponsorship program.

The National Post has the story:

The judge heading the federal sponsorship inquiry lifted a publication ban Wednesday on most of the testimony given by Chuck Guite, who headed the sponsorship program in the late ’90s.

But Justice John Gomery ruled that the testimony could not be released until 3:30 p.m. EDT because of a related court case involving Guite and ad man Jean Brault.

An inquiry for the Gomery commission said Gomery was acting out of respect for Superior Court Justice James Brunton, who was scheduled to make an announcement at the same time about whether he would delay the fraud trial of Guite and Brault.

In fact, Brunton ruled just before Gomery lifted the publication ban that the trial would be delayed from June 6 until a later date, probably in the fall.

Gomery’s ruling came the same day that lawyers finished cross-examining Guite at the inquiry, which is investigating alleged improprieties involving millions of dollars of sponsorship money.

Flap will be reporting /posting as Guite’s testimony becomes available.

So, please check back.