Suspended senator Mike Duffy has not acknowledged the paternity of a woman called Karen Duffy who says she is his daughter, sources say, although the two have been communicating.
Duffy reached out to the Peruvian woman yesterday through Facebook and a FaceTime conversation, but he did not confirm he is her biological father.
Sources tell the CBC’s Evan Solomon that the conversations were not specific about her paternity claim, but were “in general terms about family and other matters. Nothing about legal matters.” The issue of DNA testing or other legal considerations did not come up, sources say.
Duffy and the drug smuggler
Karen Duffy claims she was born after a relationship between her mother, Yvette Benites Ruiz, and Mike Duffy. Ruiz is a convicted Peruvian drug smuggler who served time in a Kingston, Ont., prison.
A published report says Ruiz claims the senator has acknowledged he is Karen Duffy's father, but sources tell CBC News the mother was not part of the conversations between Karen and Mike Duffy.
Ruiz's English is said to not be very strong, and sources suggest she may not have fully understood the questions when contacted by a Canadian reporter.
As CBC News reported yesterday, the conversation between Karen Duffy and the suspended senator was “warm” and lasted for two hours. She said she was happy the two finally spoke.
Mike Duffy was charged last week with 31 counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in relation to inappropriate expenses, contracts and a $90,000 cheque he received from Stephen Harper’s then chief of staff Nigel Wright.
Duffy has denied any wrongdoing and has said he is looking forward to his day in court. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 16, the day after Parliament resumes.