Gen. Jonathan Vance pleads guilty to obstruction of justice charge

Jonathan Vance, the country’s former chief of the defence staff, pleaded guilty on Wednesday morning to one count of obstruction of justice laid against him following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour first published by Global News last year.Appearing virtually before an Ottawa courtroom, Vance entered the unprecedented plea following a year that saw the Canadian Forces embroiled in what experts have called an existential crisis over multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against senior leaders.When asked for his plea by the presiding judge, Vance answered: “Guilty, your honour.”Rodney Sellar, legal counsel for Vance, told the court his client is seeking a discharge.

Gen. Jonathan Vance charged with obstruction of justice after military investigation The wave of allegations and resulting national reckoning over military culture came after Global News exclusively reported in February 2021 on two female subordinates’ allegations of inappropriate behaviour from Vance.Just days later, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service launched a probe that culminated in the laying of one count of obstruction of justice against Vance on July 15, 2021.The CFNIS laid the charge, but handed the case over to civilian authorities for prosecution.According to court documents filed last year, military police alleged that between Feb.

1 and Feb. 3, Vance “did willfully attempt to obstruct the course of justice in a judicial proceeding by repeatedly contacting Mrs K.B.

by phone and attempting to persuade her to make false statements about their past relationship to the Canadians Forces National Investigation Service, contrary to section 139(1) of the Criminal Code.”In an interview with The West Block‘s.