Nicola Sturgeon has denied she offered to intervene in a government investigation on behalf of Alex Salmond.
The First Minister today contradicted previous evidence from the former SNP leader and a written submission from Salmond's legal advisor, Duncan Hamilton, who both said an offer of mediation was discussed at a meeting at Sturgeon's home on April 2, 2018.
Salmond had travelled to Glasgow with Hamilton to meet Sturgeon after complaints were made against the former first minister by two women.
The allegations were supposed to be dealt with by the Scottish Government's internal complaints system - but Salmond would later challenge the fairness of the process and won a judicial review in January 2019.
Last week Salmond appeared before a committee charged with investigating the botched Government probe into the sexual misconduct complaints against him.
He was asked about the meeting with Sturgeon in 2018 and whether he could recall what was said.
He told the Inquiry: "There is no doubt that people at the meeting, Mr Aberdein and Mr Hamilton, were there — certainly, Mr Hamilton was there — when Nicola said that, and she said it to me in a private meeting as well that she was anxious to assist."
Salmond's position was corroborated by Hamilton, a former SNP MSP who now works as a Advocate. In a letter to the committee, he wrote: "We discussed mediation. My clear recollection is that her words were ‘If it comes to it, I will intervene'."
"From a legal perspective, that was the most important aspect of the meeting. I therefore remember it clearly.
"I discussed the commitment to intervene with Mr Salmond and (Salmond's former chief of staff) Mr Aberdein after we left the meeting specifically because it seemed very likely that mediation would be achieved. From Mr Salmond’s perspective, that was the desired outcome.
"The First Minister did later change her mind. She was entitled to do so.
"That change was, however, a matter of surprise. From a legal perspective, that change in position removed one of the possible alternatives to court proceedings."
Sturgeon was today challenged on whether she did offer to mediate on behalf of Salmond.
The First Minister told MSPs: "I believe I did make it clear that I would not intervene. I also know I was perhaps trying to let a long standing friend and colleague down gently, and I perhaps did it too gently, and he left with an impression I did not intent to give.
She added: "I had no intention of intervening - and crucially, I did not intervene in the process.
"During this discussion on April 2, to be blunt about it, my head was spinning. I was experiencing a maelstrom of emotions. I had been told something pretty shocking by Alex Salmond, and there were a number of things in my head - a very strong instinctive view that I could't and shouldn't intervene."
She continued: "Everyone knows these kinds of discussions don't take place in a sterile environment devoid of emotion. But I did intend to intervene and I did not intervene..
"And I know it's more complex than this, but in terms of his anger towards me, I think that is the root of it."
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