Lawyer alleges Goodman arrest politically motivated
Eglinton-Lawrence trustee will fight charges, continue to work
Outgoing Eglinton-Lawrence public school trustee Howard Goodman, who was arrested Wednesday morning on criminal harassment charges, intends to “vigorously defend himself,” according to his legal counsel.
“He is innocent and will, of course, vigorously defend himself against these charges,” lawyer William Trudell said late Wednesday night in email correspondence, in which he also suggested that Goodman’s arrest was “political” and the justice system is being “misused.”
The three-term Ward 8 trustee was charged with criminal harassment and forcible confinement for what police said were a series of incidents dating back to the fall of 2013. Police refused to name the alleged victim, but published reports later identified the person as TDSB director of education Donna Quan, with whom Goodman had had previous run-ins.
“He has a great deal of respect for the criminal justice system and regrets that it is being misused for political purposes,” Trudell said in the email.
Despite the charges, Goodman will “continue to take his responsibilities as a trustee seriously,” Trudell said.
He added that Goodman will make no further comment, as the matter is now before the courts.
Goodman was released from custody on a promise to appear in court Dec. 18.
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