Sexting Scandal Leads to Leadership Resignation of Conservative MP

Canadian MP Tony Clement speaks on behalf of the Canadian government at a G20 panel in 2010 in China. (Wikimedia Commons)

Canadian Conservative MP Tony Clement announced his resignation as his party’s justice critic on November 7 after news that he was involved in a sexting scandal broke. He admitted to sharing sexually explicit images and a video with an individual online, claiming that he believed he was sharing this sexually explicit material with a “consenting female recipient,” when in fact it was an “individual or party who targeted [him] for the purpose of financial extortion,” he said in a statement.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating this alleged extortion to determine the identity and motivation of the individual responsible. There are some concerns among security experts and intelligence officials that Clement was targeted due to his role on the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, but government and conservative officials say it is more likely he was targeted because of his frequent interactions with women on social media.

Since this story broke, numerous women have come forward with stories of Clement’s behavior online that made them uncomfortable. Kim Fox, a Canadian journalist, said that Clement’s frequent likes on her Instagram photos “made [her] really uncomfortable, and others too.” Another woman, Andrea Gunn, said she only came forward after this recent news since she didn’t think his behavior with her “had crossed a line.”

Clement, a married man, has publicly apologized for his transgression. He said he recognizes that he has “gone down a wrong path” and that his actions “exercised very poor judgment.” He also expressed his regret for causing his family “needless pain and humiliation.”

At this time, his resignation as justice critic is not a resignation of his place in the government as a whole. He has been removed from the conservative caucus but seems to be determined to maintain his seat. Clement has said he will continue to “discharge [his] duties as a Member of Parliament” while seeking help to ensure a transgression like this does not occur again. However, his support within the government is waning, as his persistent online interactions with women raise questions about his suitability for public office. It remains to be seen if his party will will oust him from the government entirely.