Don Meredith case suspended by ethics officer while police investigate: sources

The Senate's ethics watchdog has suspended her investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Senator Don Meredith pending the outcome of an investigation by another authority.

Sources tell CBC News the file has been handed over to the police.

Meredith was ousted from the Conservative caucus following a report by the Toronto Star that an 18-year-old woman alleged she had an inappropriate sexual relationship with Meredith that began when she was 16.

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In a news release issued Friday afternoon, Lyse Ricard's office said the ethics officer "may suspend her review of a matter if it is under investigation by another authority and that authority requests that the review be suspended."

Ricard, according to the news release, "is of the view that, in this case, it is in the public interest to comply with this request in order to avoid interfering with the other authority's ongoing investigation."

"The Senate ethics officer has no further comments about this matter at this time."

A workplace assessment review was launched by the Senate Speaker's office in February amid rumours of harassment and bullying in Meredith's office.

No formal complaint was made, but the concerns involved at least four employees.

An internal report from an outside firm investigating allegations of staff harassment in Meredith's office was referred to the Senate ethics officer in July.