Andrew Younger dropped off latest recording, suggests Michel Samson

Liberal cabinet minister Michel Samson is suggesting Dartmouth East MLA Andrew Youngerhimself dropped off the43-second secret recordingearlier this weekat the Nova Scotia legislature, something Younger has denied.

Early Friday, Samson said the government had proof and would make it public. However, later in the day he declined to release the evidence.

On Thursday, the Liberals released the recording Younger madelast February, in which the premier's chief of staff offers to line up a job for Younger's wife.At the time, Younger was on a forcedleave of absence.

In the House of Assembly Friday, Samson called on Younger to say whether he was the one who dropped off the tape in a package that was addressed to the premier's press secretary, Laurel Munroe.

"If I wanted to release it publicly, I would have released it to the media just as I did before," said Younger.

Younger added because the matter is being investigated by the RCMP, he would not comment publicly on the matter and would reserve any statement for police.

To date, two recordings have been released publicly.

New letter

In a two-page letter to the chief clerk of the legislature dated Thursday,Younger goes into detail about what he says he does and does not know about the two recordings made of conversations between him and Kirby McVicar, the premier's chief of staff.

On Thursday, Younger said he did not release the second recording, but did say he shared it with his advisors.

In the letter, Younger says a member of theRCMPand his team of advisorsrecommended hemakea recording of a conversation between him and the premier's chief of staff to protect himself.

On the same day, the premier made mention of a 20-minute recording, which is something Younger disputes.

"If the Premier or House Leader has determined there was a 20 minute conversation I can only surmise that they have a recording of their own, which I would encourage them to release, as I am extremely confident that such a recording would further go to demonstrate that the Premier's Office was fully involved in making demands on the actions of me and my family," said Younger's letter.

Just over one week ago, Younger released a two minuteand 39 second recording between him and McVicar that was recorded in Younger's constituency office. In that recording,McVicar is heard trying to convince Younger that while he no longer has the complete trust of the premier, it's possible McNeil would welcome him back into cabinet. There is a four-second gap about halfway through therecording.

On Thursday, the House unanimously passed a motion calling on Younger, who now sits as an independent, to release any and allrecordings in his possession of conversations with McVicar.

In the letter, Younger says he has complied with this request. He also says heis not aware of any other recordings of conversations between him and McVicar or McNeil, other than the two that have been released to date.

Younger also says that on Nov. 5, his BlackBerry"was completely wiped remotely and without warning at the direction of the Premier's office."

Leave of absence

Last December, Younger took a leave of absence from cabinet to deal with what he called "personal matters."

That issue involved former Liberal stafferTara Gault,who was under police investigation for assaulting Younger and was charged. Younger has admitted to having a "personal relationship" with Gault.

Younger was fired from cabinet and the Liberal caucustwo weeks ago andstripped of his minister's salary of$49,046.51.

Earlier that week he'd refused to testify at Gault's trial, invoking his privilege as an MLA.