Arthur Kent defamation trial hears from Don Martin's 'dreadfully embarrassed' source
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: November 18, 2015 12:00 PM | Last Updated: November 19, 2015
Lawyer Kristine Robidoux, named as Tory insider source, testifies she was 'dreadfully embarrassed'
Journalist Don Martin pressured Kristine Robidoux into agreeing to be identified as one of his sources for the article at the centre of Arthur Kent's defamation trial, according to her testimony today.
Acting as the campaign's lawyer, Robidoux testified she believed she was speaking off-the-record with Martin when he called her about the story he was working on during the 2008 election.
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Kent — who was nicknamed the "Scud Stud" for his reporting during the Persian Gulf War for an American network — had been seeking a seat as a Progressive Conservative.
Martin, who was then a National Post columnist, wrote about Kent's campaign in the riding of Calgary-Currie. He referred to Kent as the "Scud Dud," and according to the statement of claim described him as having an oversized ego and running an unorganized campaign.
Kent claimed the article injured his reputation, character and credibility — prompting a prolonged lawsuit against Postmedia Network, among others.
Suspension for breaching confidentiality
Robidoux, a longtime Conservative party supporter, was suspended for four months last year after admitting to a Law Society of Alberta panel that she breached confidentiality because she provided Martin with damaging and misleading internal campaign emails and other information about Kent, who was her client.
Believing Martin's article was going to be negative towards not only Kent, but also the PC party and then-premier Ed Stelmach, Robidoux testified that she made the decision to give information to Martin in an effort to limit the damage to the candidate.
"I'm dreadfully embarrassed that I allowed myself to participate," said Robidoux.
At the time of Martin's initial contact with Robidoux, she said there were a number of issues developing within Kent's campaign, including a breakfast fundraiser that the premier was supposed to attend but cancelled on at the last minute.
Martin said over the phone he believed the campaign was imploding and that Kent was considered a loose cannon. He also revealed he received information for the column from both Alan Hallman and Rod Love, according to Robidoux's testimony.
Robidoux said she sent Martin an email chain between the campaign manager and party brass showing that the candidate — who "was proving difficult to work with" — had been reined in, the campaign was strong and the party intact.
'I just felt awful'
Once the article was published, Robidoux said she was shocked and felt physically sick.
"My view was that it was entirely negative. It seemed a little mean but the worst feeling I had from reading it was having to acknowledge my role in what was published," said Robidoux. "I just felt awful."
A year later, after Kent launched his lawsuit, Martin was in Calgary to participate in the legal proceedings. Robidoux testified that he called and asked to meet with her.
Over breakfast, Martin told Robidoux he was under pressure to reveal her as his source and he wouldn't be able to keep her identity a secret, she testified.
Martin wanted her to agree to allow to be identified because there would be less harm done if it came out sooner rather than later.
Robidoux said she accompanied Martin to his lawyer's office where there were a number of people.
"From the time I saw that article run in the Calgary Herald, I knew that I had made a colossal mistake and that I was going to have to own up to it," said Robidoux. "I knew there would be consequences."
She said she was afraid and ashamed and felt she had no choice but to allow herself to be revealed as Martin's source.
Kent called 'crazy,' says witness
Robidoux's husband, Sean Fairhurst, also testified Wednesday. He told the judge about a 2012 encounter with Scott Watson, a lawyer for the Calgary Herald.
Fairhurst told the judge that Robidoux, then named as one of the defendants on Kent's lawsuit, asked Watson about getting the matter dealt with quickly.
Watson called Kent "crazy" during the conversation and told the couple that the lawsuit would go on "as long as it took for Mr. Kent to sabotage," according to Fairhurst.
He testified Watson said Kent would "self implode" if the case continued.
Robidoux's testimony will continue Thursday.
Justice Jo'Anne Strekaf dismissed the jury Tuesday upon deciding the opening statement from Kent's lawyer contained prejudicial remarks about Martin and Postmedia.