After he was given an unconditional discharge on assault and drug charges, Sen. Patrick Brazeau spoke candidly to reporters about the judge’s decision.
“At the end of the day, I am not a woman beater,” Brazeau said in French outside a Gatineau, Que. courthouse where Quebec Court Judge Valmont Beaulieu read his decision Wednesday.
“I am not an assaulter of women. I’m many things, but I’m not that.”
The charges of assault and sexual assault stemmed from an incident involving the suspended senator and his ex-girlfriend in February 2013. When the case went to court, the sexual assault charge was dropped mid-way through the trial because of lack of evidence.
“Each time any individual — regardless of colour, creed or anything — in this country gets accusations of sexual assault, obviously it's going to taint that person's reputation,'' Brazeau said.
“Unfortunately, there are situations where people do commit these crimes, but I haven't.”
Brazeau is expected to take the stand in March in a criminal trial related to his Senate living expenses where he faces charges of breach of trust and fraud.
With files from The Canadian Press
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