Former Tory MP Helena Guergis has suggested that she may take legal action to clear her name, days after the RCMP dropped an investigation into her conduct.
The Simcoe-Grey MP made the comments at a public event in her central Ontario riding on Friday.
"There have been a lot of negative and absolutely horrible things said about me," Guergis told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
And she has had "a couple" of lawyers approach her who would like to discuss "the options" open to her, she added.
"I'm not sure if that's the stage that I'm at, at this point -- although I think it would probably be prudent," she said. "A number of my family have suffered a great deal as a result of this, and it's concerning for me."
Guergis served as the status of women minister until Prime Minister Stephen Harper expelled her from caucus, saying that he had received information that warranted an RCMP investigation.
Harper has not publicly disclosed the information that prompted the investigation. But on Wednesday, the Mounties said they had concluded looking into the matter.
"Of course I'm very relieved that this is behind me, but not knowing exactly what it is that I was being investigated for was a challenge," Guergis said Friday.
The three-term MP now sits as an independent but said she hopes to rejoin the Conservative party. To that end, she has requested a meeting with Harper, a move that she described as "a really good idea and a good step for us at this point."
"I understand that there are some outstanding issues and I'd like to identify what those are and have an opportunity to have a conversation with him," Guergis said.
She added that members of Harper's staff "have perhaps given him some very wrong information, some very poor advice" that she would like to address.
But the Prime Minister's Office has shown no interest in bringing her back into the fold, saying the allegations that prompted an RCMP probe were only one of many factors that led to Guergis' expulsion from caucus.
Guergis is facing a separate investigation by Conflict of Interest Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson. It centres on whether Guergis violated rules by writing a letter that promoted a business that her husband, former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer, allegedly had ties to.
Meanwhile, the Tories have chosen a Conservative candidate to run against Guergis in the next federal election. But Guergis said she will run in her riding as an independent if necessary.
"I walk down the street… I have everybody approaching me and telling me very clearly, "'if you're not back in the Conservative fold, run as an independent -- I will absolutely support you,'" Guergis said.
"My name will be on the ballot."
