The MLA arrested in an undercover prostitution sting while he was on a government trip has returned to Alberta and spoke exclusively to CTV News, while officials in Minnesota decide whether he will face charges.
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen arrived in Edmonton late Tuesday night.
“I truly regret everything that has occurred,” Allen said to CTV News at the airport, echoing a statement released the day before. “I’m still waiting for charges to be laid. I’m happy to be home.”
Allen was arrested Monday night in St. Paul Minnesota. As of Tuesday night he had not been formally charged.
A spokesperson with the St. Paul Police Department said they believe Allen solicited sexual services from a website called ‘backpage.com.’
“With two of our undercover officers, after soliciting sexual services for cash, he was taken into custody without incident,” Howie Padilla said.
Allen told CTV News he doesn’t know whether he’ll be charged.
The arrest came while Allen was in St. Paul, Minnesota, to meet U.S. legislators attending the Council of State Governments Midwestern Legislative Conference from July 14 to 17.
Allen’s trip was part of a number of missions Alberta government members were on at about the same time – as Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Cal Dallas and Minister of Energy Ken Hughes are in Anchorage, Alaska, from July 14 to 18.
The province said last week the meetings were an effort to increase market access, and cross-border trade within the region.
“I truly regret that this has happened. I have no excuse for my actions. I just, it’s occurred. I’m here to face the music and that’s up to my constituents,” he said when asked what he wanted to say to Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo residents.
On Tuesday, Government Whip Steve Young confirmed to CTV News that Allen had tendered his resignation from the PC caucus – which Young accepted Tuesday morning.
“He recognized fully the gravity of the incident, and how it was perceived, actually and perceptually,” Young said. “He tendered his resignation, so we didn’t have to have much of a conversation about that.”
Young said he didn’t have many details on the incident, only that Allen called it an incident with an escort.
Allen told CTV News he will take some time to reflect on what happened before deciding whether or not to resign as a MLA.
Requests for comment from the premier or deputy premier were declined Wednesday.
Opposition calling for byelection in Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
Within hours of the news on Allen’s arrest breaking, the opposition party quickly came out against Allen’s resignation from the PC caucus, saying he should step down from provincial politics completely.
Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith released a statement Tuesday afternoon calling for a byelection in Allen’s riding.
“You can’t go into a foreign country, representing the people of Alberta and the people of your constituency and act in this way,” Wildrose MLA Rob Anderson said Wednesday. “It’s completely inappropriate.”
However, Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said that reaction might be premature, as Allen has not been charged – and even if they are, he’ll face a gross misdemeanor charge, not a criminal charge.
“Where I think he’s in trouble is he was on government business travel, and I think that is a more important issue than the actual legal offence,” Bratt said.
Bratt went on to suggest the Wildrose reaction could be politically motivated, and the party could be pushing for Allen to step down in an effort to win the seat.
As for Allen’s political career, Bratt said the rookie MLA will suffer consequences.
“I think this could be greatly damaging to his career,” Bratt said. “Even if he decides to run again as a member of the PCs or as an independent.”
Outside of the legislature, advocates for vulnerable women hope the high profile case sheds light on prostitution, and how widespread the problem is.
“It’s public because he’s a public person, so that’s our wake-up call,” Kate Quinn with the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) said. “That we all have to really ask ourselves some questions about what’s happening in our communities.”
A decision on charges against Allen is expected by Friday – the maximum penalty for the charge could be up to a year behind bars, and a fine of up to $3,000.
With files from Bill Fortier and Serena Mah
