External auditor to look at residence claims, expenses of three senators

OTTAWA – The Senate is asking outside auditors to check out the residency claims and expenses of three of its members, including a senator already facing criminal charges.

The committee which oversees the upper chamber’s internal budgets has asked the Deloitte accounting firm to review the residency claims of Conservative senators Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy and Liberal Mac Harb.

The accountants will look at their claims about where they live and their related expenses.

Committee chairman Sen. David Tkachuk is also seeking a legal opinion on the question of Duffy’s residency.

Duffy is a senator for Prince Edward Island, Brazeau holds a Quebec seat and Harb, a longtime former Ottawa MP, sits for Ontario.

Court documents say Brazeau is charged with sexual assault and assault in connection with an incident at his home.