Former senior Liberal aide denies delaying approval of CSIS warrant to protect party

But Zita Astravas never clearly explained why 54 days went by between her receiving the CSIS warrant request and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair getting it to sign

OTTAWA – Former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s chief of staff categorically denied delaying the approval of a CSIS electronic and entry warrant application allegedly targeting an influential Liberal powerbroker in 2021 during public testimony Wednesday.

Speaking at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI) on Wednesday evening, former senior Liberal aide Zita Astravas repeatedly said claims she “slow walked” the warrant authorization for political reasons were “categorically false.”