Conservative under RCMP probe working in election

The Canadian Press:

The Canadian Press has learned that a former Conservative staffer under RCMP investigation is working on the federal campaign in a key riding.

Sebastien Togneri demanded that government officials block the release of a document and censor it heavily in 2009 while he was a senior aide to a cabinet minister.

Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose called in the Mounties to determine if charges should be laid after an investigation by Canada's information commissioner found that Togneri clearly interfered with the request without legal authority to do so.

Now Togneri has turned up working for the campaign of Ryan Hastman in Edmonton-Strathcona, a riding the Tories are trying to win back from the NDP.

Hastman's campaign manager says Togneri was an old friend who had come around to help and was just putting up campaign signs.

Two sources say Togneri had been seen at a major rally for Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday night that Ambrose also attended.

Ambrose says she was not aware Togneri was working on Hastman's campaign.