When “no” means “no credibility”

Sad. Winston Peters continues to maintain his innocence to the last. He has told Parliament’s Privileges Committee that at all times during the Glenn donation saga, “when I said no it was no.”

He denies asking Glenn for a donation in the telephone call in December 14 2005 of which has produced the telephone record, and today had his personal assistant recount her recollection. there had been a phone conversation, but he says he can’t recall talking about money.

Instead, he claims that Glenn wanted a roving trade ambassador’s role similar to Mike Moore’s. That may be true, although I suspect it would have been a part-time role similar to Angelina Jolie’s UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador work. It’s not as though Glenn needs the money that desperately. Hell, he’s been doing his best to give it away!

Oh, and Peters says he wants to be judged “by decent New Zealanders who understand justice”.

Prime Minister Clark has said Mr Glenn’s evidence was “deeply disturbing”. She is carefully considering Peters’ responses tonight and is expected to announce tomorrow whether she is sacking Peters from his ministerial positions. She had already pointedly refused to rule out making such a decision before the Privileges Committee rules. Given Peters’ hollow response to the hard evidence put up by Glenn, she doesn’t really have much choice.

Tags: Peters