Jody Wilson-Raybould's father says Butts resignation is a case of "trying to keep reputation clean"

On the heels of the Principal Secretary to Justin Trudeau, Gerald Butts' resignation from his post, Jody Wilson-Raybould's father, Bill Wilson claimed that it was a case of "people trying to keep their reputation clean".

Earlier today, Butts announced that the Prime Minister accepted his resignation from his unelected office.

Gerald Butts is one of the key witnesses from the Prime Minister's Office who have been accused of pressuring the former Justice Minister to intervene on behalf of SNC-Lavalin in a criminal case.

"I read that and I thought to myself that he's certainly putting himself arms length from anybody else that criticized her," said Bill Wilson. "The reality is that this guy was one of the senior recruiters to get a star candidate in Vancouver Granville, and it seems to me that it's not rats deserting the sinking ship, it's people trying to keep their reputation clean from what is going to be, or seems to be a really ugly scandal."

The former Principal Secretary published his resignation letter publicly.

“My reputation is my responsibility and that is for me to defend. It is  in the best interests of the office and its important work for me to  step away,” said Butts.

"It's quite a big surprise, but it seems to indicate that the whole thing that's been considered a rumour before is more fact now. The reality is that we seem to be getting closer to the Emperor and he doesn't seem to have any clothes on," said Wilson on the resignation.

Since the scandal broke, Jody Wilson- Raybould has kept tight-lipped on the scandal and has secured legal representation from Thomas Cromwell, to counsel her on what she can or cannot say on the matter.

"Clearly there's some pressure coming and some kind of threat. Poeple don't resign from the highest non-elected political office in the country, without some fear or reason. He talks about his reputation and he seems to fear that it is at risk, and it could very well be," said Jody Wilson-Raybould's father.

"You don't take a hugely influential, the most influential person in the country, in a non-elected position, and step down if there wasn't something coming down the pipe."

Jody Wilson-Raybould recently resigned from her post as the Minister of Veterans Affairs shortly after Justin Trudeau claimed that her presence in the cabinet was a testament to the innocence of the PMO. Early on in January, she was shuffled from her position as the Justice Minister into the veterans post. Wilson-Raybould was the first aboriginal woman to hold the position.

"It's a step back for aboriginal people, and the progress that Jody symbolized and that all of us expected," said Bill Wilson.

"I have no doubt that she will run, she has an obligation to the people of Granville, she has an obligation to the people of the Liberal party as well, as well as all of the other people in that riding that voted for her."