Conservative candidate out of federal race after sexual assault allegations

A Conservative candidate running in Cole Harbour-Dartmouth has withdrawn from the race after allegations of sexual assault surfaced online

HALIFAXtoday\ Stephen Wentzell

A Conservative candidate running in Cole Harbour-Dartmouth has withdrawn from the race after allegations of sexual assault surfaced online.

Troy Myers, who calls the allegations unequivocally false, announced the end of his campaign this morning on Facebook.

The allegations come from Lauren Skabar, who recently ran in the provincial election under the NDP banner.

She shared on Twitter that she met Myers in October 2019 at a Nova Scotia Libraries Association conference hosted by South Shore Public Libraries.

One day after a set of scheduled events, Myers tugged at her skirt before reaching his hand up her skirt and into her underwear.

Skabar said on Twitter she was “was mortified and heartbroken” by the assault, adding “the next morning after closing remarks, he winked at me.”

Myers wrote on Facebook on Monday morning that it’s in the best interests of his loved ones, colleagues and career to step back from politics.

“I have already consulted legal counsel to review all options,” he wrote, adding he’s now shifting all his attention and efforts to “fight these defamatory false statements.”

The allegations have not been proved in court.

“As we treat allegations of sexual misconduct with the seriousness they deserve, the Conservative Party instructed Mr. Myers to withdraw his candidacy, and he agreed,” a statement from the Conservative Party of Canada reads.

NEWS 95.7 has reached out to both the victim and Myers’ campaign and will update the story with any responses.