The Liberal Party is under some pressure to take action on the growing questions surrounding Liberal Party director (Ontario wing) David Pretlove's strange offer to reimburse the London riding association almost $15,000, discovered missing in January. The offer was conditional on a written assurance that the police not get involved. The offer was turned down and the police were called in. Strange as that offer was in January, it is now seen as downright suspicious when it was learned that the woman charged this week in the theft, Suzan Pawlak, was on Pretlove's staff when Pretlove made his offer.

Until now, the story was only being reported locally. Today, the National Post is reporting on it, and has added significant new information on David Pretlove, Suzan Pawlak, and the missing riding association money:

A former Liberal riding association treasurer has been arrested for stealing more than $13,000, and a senior federal party official is accused of attempting to cover up the alleged crime.

David Pretlove, the interim financial director of the Liberal Party of Canada's Ontario wing, offered to reimburse the Elgin-Middlesex-London Riding Association [EMLFLA ] with party funds if it took no further action against the alleged fraudster, Suzan Pawlak.

"This is an attempted cover-up," says the riding's Conservative MP Joe Preston. "This sounds above and beyond what happens at a grassroots level."

While Mr. Preston is calling for Liberal leader Stephane Dion to investigate the controversy, NDP MP Paul Dewar has demanded Mr. Pretlove's suspension.

This is huge. The National Post is unambiguously stating that David Pretlove was going to use his control of party funds to convince someone not to pursue a criminal investigation into the mismanagement of other party funds. According to this report, when the offer was made, it was understood that the money was actually stolen, and suspicion was already centered on Suzan Pawlak:

After a five-month investigation that began in August and ended in January, [Pawlak's successor, criminal lawyer William Glover,] couldn't dig up the supporting documents he needed and informed the riding leadership $15,000 of money was unaccounted for.

As allegations against Ms. Pawlak swirled last February, Mr. Pretlove drafted a letter to the riding leadership offering two compromises on her behalf.

According to a document viewed by the National Post, Mr. Pretlove suggested that either Ms. Pawlak supply supporting documentation for the payments or alternatively, "[a] cheque representing the amount in question is issued and sent to the attention of Mr. Norm Feaver, Riding Association President by the LPC(O)."

If the second option were undertaken, wrote Mr. Pretlove, "there must be an assurance from the Executive of the EMLFLA (in writing from the Association President) that there will be no further action taken, and the matter will be considered closed."

We know allegations against Pawlak were swirling. So when David Pretlove made his offer, it was in the context of an alleged criminal act having been committed, and with a sole individual suspected of the crime, with documentary evidence to back up that charge.

And David Pretlove was going to use party funds to prevent a criminal investigation.

Just what does it take to get Liberals upset about this?

Party funds! How was he planning to account for that $15,000 shortfall in his accounts if he had handed it over to the London association? Was the plan to even account for it as a transfer to the riding association?

What was David Pretlove's plan with regards to the money the Liberal Party had entrusted to him?

So what Liberal party members (and Liberal bloggers) have to ask themselves is this: The National Post is reporting that David Pretlove was planning to use your money to protect Suzan Pawlak. Are you satisfied that David Pretlove was allowed to continue to work for the Liberal Party, managing the money, and that no other action was taken, other than to fire Suzan Pawlak with cause back in March?

For crying out loud, Michael Crawley says that Pretlove was on his own here:

Mike Crawley, the president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario), said that Mr. Pretlove acted without party approval.

"He is an individual of very sound judgment and is a nice person, and unfortunately, the latter characteristic took hold."

Sure he's a nice guy. Whatever. But Crawley admits that Pretlove was about to spend $15,000 in party money without authorization, in a manner that clearly would not likely have been approved had the LPC(O) executive known about it.

And so Pretlove is allowed to continue to work?

Obviously the Liberal Party thought the case against Pawlak was so strong that she was let go. But David Pretlove, who tried to keep her working for the Liberal Party by using part funds to cover up what had happened, was allowed to keep his senior position. What does all this say about the attitude towards party funds and accountability in this post-Gomery Liberal Party?

The president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario), Michael Crawley, said David Pretlove's offer was "unfortunate". Norm Feaver called David Pretlove's offer was "ill-advised". With strong language like that, is it a surprise that David Pretlove is simply going to walk away from all this?

Despite the call for his resignation, Mr. Pretlove will fulfill his responsibilities until August. In the meantime, the party is interviewing candidates to replace him. Mr. Pretlove did not return calls for comment.

I'd like to hear if the Liberal Party is also review the accounts over which David Pretlove had control. According to this report, David Pretlove seemed to think he had a great deal of latitude in how party money could be spent in order to help out his friends.

Update: As it turns out, Pretlove was only willing to pay $7,200.

Check out other entries from the David Pretlove category
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