Joe Giglio’s ‘Reservations’ On Pilatus Whistleblower Were ‘Personal Thoughts Based On Evidence At The Time’
PN home affairs spokesperson Joe Giglio has stated that his “reservations” on Pilatus Bank whistleblower Maria Efimova were only “personal thoughts based on facts he had at the time.”
The statement came by way of social media, in which he referred to an interview he had with Andrew Azzopardi where he was asked about his role as a lawyer in the case involving Efimova and Pilatus Bank.
Efimova is the bank employee who famously informed assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia that the Panama company Egrant belonged to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
In the interview, however, Giglio flagged a few doubts over Efimova’s credibility. At least, based on the facts available to him at the time.
His comments sparked some criticism from PN MP Karol Aquilina and former MP Jason Azzopardi, with the former even stating that Giglio undermined Caruana Galizia’s memory.
Former MP Jason Azzopardi had even said that ‘PN is siding with criminals’.
In his post on social media, Giglio responded to the criticism:
“Neither myself nor the Nationalist Party will be intimidated by others in our mission to bring out the truth, and justice.”
“We need to urge the authorities to carry out their work so that the truth can come out, and I will continue to strive to see that this happens without more confusion and prolongation.”
After sending questions to Opposition Leader Bernard Grech, the Times of Malta has reported that the PN’s position is not the same as that of Giglio’s. So much so, that a spokesperson from the PN had said that there should be a “distinction between the MP’s profession and politics”.
What do you make of Joe Giglio’s comments?