Top Legal Official Closely Watches Senate Inquiry
He cannot analyze it publicly for the time being, but Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte said he is keeping ‘eagle eyes’ on the drama unfolding every Wednesday at the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration’s public hearings. As the nation’s top legal official, he will be responsible along with the Director of Public Prosecutions for laying any criminal charges that may arise from the results of the Inquiry, but he must keep his cards close to his chest for the present until the Senate resolves the issue one way or the other. But in speaking with News Five, he did express some sympathy for the members of the panel who have had to actually question witnesses and listen to some strange things in the last four months.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
“Of course we are. As a fellow Senator, I feel for my fellow Senators who have to endure it every Wednesday, and I’m following it closely as Attorney General, and as a Senator and as a private citizen of this country. So yes, I’m following it very, very closely; but I will not comment on it, and I will not attempt to do anything about it or what I’ve heard until the Senate has produced a report with their findings. I think the Senate Standing Orders as well, prevents Senators from divulging information or giving information even though it’s there for the nation to hear; but still, I don’t want to give my analysis or input on it until the Senate has compiled its report on the matter.”
Reporter
“Fair enough; that was the basis of the objection that you made in the Budget Debate on Monday.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Let the Senate Select Committee finish their findings. Because we know that the Auditor General had said certain things were irregular or improper, implying that they were illegal, and that had to be taken back to say no, those things were not illegal or improper or whatever. So we don’t know what may or may not be taken back during the process, so the best thing for all of us to do is wait for the process to be finished and then we comment from there.”
The public hearings resume on April twenty-sixth, with Barton Middleton being recalled to testify.
