At Issue panel dissects Senator Duffy's bombshell speech

The National's At Issue panel discuss Senator Mike Duffy's statementTuesdaythat Prime Minister Stephen Harper ordered him to repay expense money.

• Who's who in the Senate expense controversy
• Senate expenses: what you need to know

Duffy made the remark during a speech in theSenate, which is debating motions brought by the Conservatives to suspend himand fellow senatorsPamelaWallinand PatrickBrazeauwithout pay.

Panelist Jennifer Ditchburn of the Canadian Press called Duffy's speech "riveting."

"Mr. Duffy was very passionate," she said, adding that he pointed at his former Conservative colleagues in the chamber as his spoke.

PanelistBruceAnderson expects another day of interesting developmentsregarding Conservative senators' position on themotion to suspend the trio.

"I think, given the revelations that Senator Duffy made today, it's going to be very difficult for those Conservativesenatorsto say, 'No, come to think of it, we don't want to hear any more about that. We just want to vote to get you out of the Senate."

Added Anderson: "Ultimately this really is a character question about the prime minister."