OTTAWA – Stephen Harper is facing accusations that he misled Canadians about the Mike Duffy expenses scandal after court documents contradicted the prime minister’s version of events.

Harper repeatedly insisted that his former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, acted on his own when he decided to give Duffy $90,000 to reimburse the Senate for invalid expense claims.

But the RCMP, which has launched a criminal investigation into the matter, says in court documents that Wright told three other senior people in the Prime Minister’s Office about the transaction.

Moreover, Wright claims he stepped in only after the Conservative party, which had been prepared initially to repay the money for Duffy, decided the price tag was too steep.

NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus says the documents suggest Harper made no effort to determine the extent of his office’s involvement before misleading Parliament — and Canadians — with incorrect information.

Angus says the court documents also raise disturbing questions about the Conservative party’s “loosey-goosey” attitude toward the law.