MONTREAL (Reuters) - The head of an inquiry into a cash-for-favors scandal that is rocking Canada's minority Liberal government will rule on Thursday whether to lift a ban on publishing evidence from a key witness, an official said on Wednesday.
The evidence in question -- termed "explosive" by newspapers -- was given to the inquiry last Thursday by advertising executive Jean Brault. The publication ban was imposed because Brault faced a trial for fraud next month, but summaries of his testimony are available on U.S. Web sites.
A Quebec judge on Wednesday agreed to push Brault's trial back to June 6, leaving inquiry head John Gomery to decide whether to lift the publication ban.
A spokesman for Gomery initially said the judge would make a decision on Wednesday but the cross-examination of Brault lasted longer than expected and had only just finished when the inquiry broke for the day.
"The judge will definitely decide on Thursday," the spokesman said.
Brault's lawyers, who argued that their client would have no chance of a fair trial in May if his evidence was made public now, had pushed for the proceedings to be put back to September.
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