CONSERVATIVE MP TONY CLEMENT RESIGNS AMID SEXTING SCANDAL

FORMER CABINET MINISTER & CURRENT MP SHARED SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES & VIDEO, SAYS HE’S FACING EXTORTION ATTEMPT

Longtime Conservative MP and Former Cabiner Minister Tony Clement resigned from his post as his party’s justice critic after admitting to sharing sexually explicit images and a video with an individual online reports CBC.”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 par ty 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.”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.Clement is married.”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.”