Brown challenges accusers to press charges

Former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown is challenging two women who accused him of sexual misconduct to go to police and try to have authorities press charges.

In a statement posted to Facebook, Brown says he wants the unnamed women who made the allegations in a CTV News report in January to contact Barrie, Ont., police so the accusations can be dealt with in a “proper and fair forum.”

His comments come after one of the women told CTV News she was not under the legal drinking age or in high school during one of the alleged incidents, as originally reported.

The woman says the altered timeline doesn’t change the core of her allegations and notes that she has been subject to demeaning and misogynistic comments online since CTV’s first report.

Brown resigned hours after CTV’s January report and now says that the broadcaster defamed him.

CTV says it stands by its reporting. The allegations have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press.