OTTAWA — Chris Woodcock was a sort of fire extinguisher inside Stephen Harper's office, putting out political problems as they popped up in the media.
The former director of issues management is testifying today at the fraud, breach of trust and bribery trial of Sen. Mike Duffy.
The Crown is asking Woodcock to describe the work he did with Duffy to have him make certain statements to the media about his contested Senate expenses.
Woodcock says he had collegial relations with Duffy as they worked on public statements and media lines on his repayment of housing claims.
Ultimately, it was Harper's former chief of staff Nigel Wright who repaid Duffy's expenses, although the public was consistently told that the senator was doing it himself.
The prosecution is trying to build the case that Duffy was either the instigator or an equal partner in a scheme to have Wright repay the bill, while the public was told otherwise.
