Ottawa, ON – Today, Conservative MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka Tony Clement issued the following statement:
“Over the last three weeks, I have shared sexually explicit images and a video of myself to someone who I believed was a consenting female recipient. The recipient was, in fact, an individual or party who targeted me for the purpose of financial extortion. The RCMP are currently investigating the matter to determine the identity of the party responsible for the extortion attempt.
“Tonight, I have resigned from my House of Commons committee assignments as well as Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice in order to focus on my personal life and my family. I ask that all Canadians respect my and my family’s privacy at this time.
“I recognize now that I have gone down a wrong path and have exercised very poor judgment. First and foremost, I apologize to my family for the needless pain and humiliation my actions have caused. I also apologize to my colleagues and my constituents for letting them down. I am committed to seeking the help and treatment I need in my personal life to make sure this will not happen again while also continuing to discharge my duties as a Member of Parliament.”
