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Duffy trial to butt up against election campaign, may run into late fall

The trial of suspended senator Mike Duffy will run at least into the summer months, butting up against the federal election campaign.

OTTAWA — The trial of suspended senator Mike Duffy will run at least into the summer months, butting up against the federal election campaign.

Justice Charles Vaillancourt says the court will sit from Aug. 11 to Aug. 28, and then again, if necessary, from Nov. 18 to Dec. 18.

This means that witnesses including senior Conservative senators and the prime minister’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright could be testifying just as the party leaders prepare to hit the campaign trail.

Already, a leaders’ debate hosted by Maclean’s magazine is scheduled for August.

The weeks in August became available last week, when former Liberal senator Mac Harb agreed that his own fraud and bribery trial could be postponed.

Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in connection to his Senate office, living and travel claims.