Charlie Elphicke, a former Tory MP jailed for two years for sexual assault. In a joint letter written on House of Commons stationery in November 2020, they claimed releasing the character references could have a “chilling effect and harm the criminal justice system”.But the House of Commons Standards Committee ruled they “sought to influence” the outcome of the hearing in a damning report on their conduct.The report stated: “Such egregious behaviour is corrosive to the rule of law and, if allowed to continue unchecked, could undermine public trust in the independence of judges.”The watchdog recommended three of the five - Sir Roger Gale and Theresa Villiers, plus Elphicke’s ex-wife and his replacement as MP Natalie Elphicke - be suspended.
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