Former Liberal MP and one-time mayoral candidate John Nunziata has been charged with assault after what he describes as an altercation with his ex-wife's boyfriend.
Toronto Police confirmed yesterday only that Nunziata was charged with assault and released pending a court appearance Nov. 26.
"He has been released and the alleged victim is a male adult in his 40s," said Const. Tony Vella.
Vella wouldn't give any more information about the alleged assault, but said more details of the accusation might be released today.
In an interview as he left his Etobicoke home yesterday, Nunziata said Murray Milthorpe was allegedly "bugging" his 14-year-old daughter at Canlan Ice Sports in Etobicoke on Friday night, where his 11-year-old son was playing.
The former politician said he approached Milthorpe. He alleges that Milthorpe then pushed him and told him off.
Nunziata added that police told him the allegation is that he kicked Milthorpe in the buttocks.
He denies the allegation.
Asked to share his side of the story yesterday, Milthorpe said, "I would probably not want to comment, for the integrity of the kids."
Nunziata, 53, a lawyer by profession, was part of the notorious "rat pack" known for haranguing the Tories in the House of Commons in the 1980s, and in 1996 voted against his own party's budget.
He lost his high-profile 2003 mayoral bid to David Miller.
Nunziata said he and his ex-wife, Caroline Brett, went through a divorce that ended in May 2007.
They have joint custody of their three children and live near each other in Etobicoke.
Nunziata said there have been ongoing tensions between him, his wife, and her new boyfriend.
"This is something I have to deal with and the kids get in the middle of this," Nunziata said.
Yesterday there was no indication that police plan to charge Milthorpe.
With files from Michele Henry