The secret trial : Brian Mulroney, Stevie Cameron and the public trust

In his best-selling Presumed Guilty William Kaplan chronicled the corruption charges surrounding the $1.8 billion purchase by Air Canada of passenger airplanes from European giant Airbus Industries and concluded - based on the evidence available at the time - that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had been the victim of unfounded allegation and reckless innuendo. Discovering that the story was far more complicated, Kaplan sets the record straight in A Secret Trial. In his bestselling Presumed Guilty William Kaplan chronicled the corruption charges surrounding the 1988 $1.8 billion purchase by Air Canada of passenger airplanes from European giant Airbus Industries. Based on the available evidence, he concluded that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had been the victim of a campaign of unfounded allegation and reckless innuendo. But Kaplan discovered the story was more complicated. He sets the record straight in A Secret Trial. Not long after leaving office Brain Mulroney was paid $300,000 in cash by Karlheinz Schreiber, a German-Canadian middleman wanted in Germany for bribery and tax evasion. Mulroney vehemently denies any wrongdoing. When confronted by Kaplan about the unexplained payment, the former prime minister declared: "Anyone who says anything about [the $300,000] will be in for one fuck of a fight." At the root of Kaplan's investigation, laid bare by his determination and insight, is a secret trial held in Toronto full of stunning revelations that almost escaped public attention.A Secret Trial is a cautionary tale that also stars Stevie Cameron, one of Canada's leading investigative journalists and a best-selling author. Cameron was so determined to bring Mulroney to justice that she allowed herself to be tagged as a confidential informer, Agent A2948, by the RCMP. Though she continues to waffle about the nature of her relationship with the Mounties, Kaplan chronicles the mountain of incriminating evidence against her. A Secret Trial is a scathing indictment of a culture of court secrecy and the crumbling ethics and standards of politicians, journalists, the RCMP, and business. This page-turner is bookended by incisive commentaries from J.L. Granatstein and Norman Spector. In his bestselling Presumed Guilty Kaplan chronicled the corruption charges surrounding the 1988 USD1.8 billion purchase by Air Canada of passenger airplanes from European giant Airbus Industries, concluding that Mulroney had been the victim of a campaign of unfounded allegation and reckless inuendo. In Liar, Liar, Kaplan reveals how he was misled and deceived by both Mulroney and Cameron. Mulroney paid USD300,000 in cash not long after leaving office in circumstances he believed were best kept quiet, subsequently misled Canadians when he testified under oath about his relationship with German middle man Karlheinz Schrieber and then tried to suppress the story in the media. most sacred commandments and in 1995 became a confidential informant for the RCMP. Kaplan finally sets the record straight about the Airbus affair and reveals the culture of court secrecy that Mulroney and Cameron manipulated for their own use. Kaplan's thrilling page-turner is bookended by incisive commentaries by Jack Granatstein and Norman Spector. They delve into the major themes of Liar, Liar - a cautionary tale starring two of Canada's most prominent public figures - and offer tantalizing perspectives on one the most controversial events in recent Canadian history. Within weeks of leaving office, Mulroney was paid at least $225,000 in cash by Karlheinz Schreiber, an international arms dealer wanted in Germany for bribery and tax evasion. When confronted by Kaplan about the unexplained payment, Mulroney vehemently denied any wrongdoing: "Anyone who says anything about [the money] will be in for one fuck of a fight." At the root of Kaplan's investigation is a secret trial and its stunning revelations - information that nearly escaped public attention. Only now, years later, is the former prime minister facing a public inquiry that threatens to permanently derail his reputation. Contents Foreword 1 The Prince of Penne 2 A Secret Trial 3 In Court 4 The Theory of the Case 5 Open or Shut? 6 Police Informer 7 The Icing on the Cake 8 Brian and Me 9 Confirmation Conclusion: The Difficulty in Getting to the Truth Afterword Notes Chronology Acknowledgements Picture Credits Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W Z "A Secret Trial is the first critical untangling of the widespread deception behind the Airbus scandal. William Kaplan pits former Prime Minister Mulroney against investigative journalist Stevie Cameron in one of the most controversial political imbroglios in recent Canadian history."--Résumé de l'éditeur "A Secret Trial is the first critical untangling of the widespread deception behind the Airbus scandal. William Kaplan pits former Prime Minister Mulroney against investigative journalist Stevie Cameron in one of the most controversial political imbroglios in recent Canadian history."--Jacket

A Secret Trial is the first critical untangling of the widespread deception behind the Airbus scandal. William Kaplan pits former Prime Minister Mulroney against investigative journalist Stevie Cameron in one of the most controversial political imbroglios in recent Canadian history.

"Thank you," Brian Mulroney said in his usual polite way when Karlheinz Schreiber passed over the large envelope containing $100,000 in cash.