Cadman bribe tape wasn't doctored: Expert

SURREY, BC -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper's own audio expert says a tape providing key evidence about an alleged bribe was not doctored as Harper has claimed.
Author Tom Zytaruk asked the prime minister on tape about an alleged attempt by Conservative officials to bribe Independent MP Chuck Cadman.
In 2005, Cadman told his wife, Dona Cadman, that two Conservative representatives had offered him a $1-million life insurance policy in exchange for his vote in a confidence motion aimed at bringing down the Liberal government.
Cadman was terminally ill at the time and died two months later.
The interview, in which Harper speaks of an offer to Cadman "to replace financial considerations he might lose during an election," has been cited by Liberals in the House of Commons and in articles posted on the Liberal party website as evidence that Harper knew of an alleged attempt to bribe Cadman in May 2005, in exchange for his vote in the Commons to topple the Liberal government of the day. Harper, who denies knowing any such thing, is suing the Liberals for $3.5-million.
Two audio experts hired earlier by Harper said the tape appeared to have been doctored.
An Ontario judge then ordered another analysis and Harper hired former FBI agent Bruce Koenig for the job.
Koenig said the portion of the tape dealing with the insurance policy "contains neither physical nor electronic splices, edits or alterations," according to a report entered into the court record on Oct 10.
In September, Harper was able to persuade the court to put the lawsuit on hold until after the Oct 14 federal election. Harper also tried to keep Koenig's report out of the court record until the vote had passed, but the Liberals were able to get it on the record Oct 10.
Zytaruk, who has steadfastly maintained the tape was never altered, said he is happy about the timing.
"I'm glad this came out before the election. I was really looking forward to testifying because it's not pleasant to be accused on a national scale of doing something dishonest, such as doctoring a tape."