Suspended senator Patrick Brazeau has landed a new gig, working as a day manager at an Ottawa strip club.
Brazeau, who was suspended from the Senate without pay last November, started Tuesday at BareFax Gentlemen鈥檚 Club, located just a stone鈥檚 throw from Parliament Hill in Ottawa鈥檚 famed Byward Market.
麻豆影视 cameras captured Brazeau arriving at the strip club around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
When asked how the job was going, Brazeau replied "so far, so good." He added that he took the position because "a job is a job."
According to Carmelina Bentivoglio, one of the night club's owners, Brazeau interviewed for the position about two weeks ago. She said Brazeau, whom she鈥檇 never met before, is a friend of one of her family members. That family member knew the suspended senator was looking for a job, and referred him.
Brazeau will be working four days a week, from Tuesday until Friday, and will be responsible for managing about 25 staff, including hiring, firing, scheduling and inventory.
Asked what was special about Brazeau to land him the job, Bentivoglio replied: 鈥淣othing.鈥�
鈥淚t was timing,鈥� she told reporters. 鈥淲e lost a manager and we just got a call and sat with him and we thought we鈥檇 give him a try. That鈥檚 all it was, really.鈥�
She did, however, say that Brazeau was 鈥減erfect鈥� during the job interview.
Bentivoglio said the 39-year-old wasn鈥檛 hired to bring extra attention to BareFax, but rather because Brazeau鈥檚 strong communication and people skills make him a good fit for the job.
鈥淲ell, I mean, he鈥檚 got to be somewhat of a smart guy, right? He鈥檚 a politician so I鈥檓 assuming he鈥檒l do well here.鈥�
She said Brazeau will be subject to three months鈥� probation, as all employees are.
This isn鈥檛 the first job that the embattled senator has held since his suspension: Brazeau was hired as a freelance reporter for the Halifax-based Frank Magazine in December, but was let go after just one column.
Brazeau has been at the heart of the ongoing Senate expense scandal since it first emerged. He, along with former senator Mac Harb, was charged with breach of trust and fraud earlier this month following an RCMP investigation.
Brazeau is alleged to have improperly claimed close to $49,000 in housing expenses, after claiming his father鈥檚 home in Maniwaki as his primary residence in order to receive an annual taxpayer-subsidized housing allowance.
Brazeau was ordered to repay that money following an audit of his expenses. He was suspended from the Senate without pay in November, along with Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy, whose expenses are also being investigated by the RCMP. Harb stepped down from the upper chamber last August.
Brazeau was also charged with assault and sexual assault in February 2013, following an incident at his Gatineau home.
None of the allegations against him have been tested or proven in court.
Asked whether she鈥檚 concerned about the allegations, Brazeau鈥檚 new boss said no.
鈥淓veryone is innocent until proven guilty,鈥� Bentivoglio said.
