Clement resigns Commons duties over sexting scandal

Longtime Conservative MP Tony Clement has resigned his post as his party’s justice critic after admitting to sharing sexually explicit images and a video with an individual online.

“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,” Clement said in a statement. “The RCMP are currently investigating the matter to determine the identity of the party responsible for the extortion attempt,” he added.

Clement, who has twice vied for the leadership of the federal party and served in senior cabinet positions in the former Conservative government, said in a statement late Tuesday he will be resigning his position on a number of Commons committees.”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,” he said in the statement. In a follow-up statement sent shortly after Clement released his statement, PC party leader Scheer said he had accepted Clement’s resignation from his party duties.  “While I’m greatly disappointed with Mr. Clement’s actions, I am encouraged that he has decided to seek help and I wish him all the best in doing so,” Scheer said.

Lisa Raitt, the deputy leader of the Conservative Party, will assume the justice role effective immediately, Scheer said.