KEY POINTS:
The man who unwittingly triggered the first questions about a donation from Owen Glenn to Winston Peters has now been revealed as playing a pivotal role in bringing the scandal to a head.
And, ironically, that man is New Zealand First's own Dail Jones.
The MP and former party president sprang to prominence in February when he candidly talked about a mystery deposit in New Zealand First's bank account that was probably "closer to $100,000" than $10,000.
Mr Jones said at the time he didn't know if the money had come from expat billionaire Mr Glenn or not.
Mr Jones' comments infuriated Mr Peters and also set in motion the chain of events that has seen Mr Peters deny there was a donation from Mr Glenn, then admit the billionaire had given $100,000 towards his legal fees, but continue throughout to deny any knowledge of the donation being made.
With the scandal now threatening to end Mr Peters' political career, it has emerged that Mr Jones also played an unlikely role in Mr Glenn's decision to fly to New Zealand this week.
"The day Mr Jones called me a liar is the day I made up my mind to fight back," Mr Glenn told Radio NZ yesterday. "I believe it was him in Parliament that said, in defence of Winston Peters, that he thought I was lying."
Asked if that was the final straw for him, Mr Glenn said, "Yep".
Clearly riled by suggestions his memory was wrong or confused, Mr Glenn's fightback has been emphatic.
Several people questioned Mr Glenn's recollections in the two weeks before he flew to New Zealand, including Mr Jones, Mr Peters and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen.
Mr Jones first drew attention to the fact that a letter Mr Glenn sent to the privileges committee was unsigned and "would never hold up in a court of law".
He also told reporters, "I think Mr Glenn's credibility is at stake".
Mr Jones said in Parliament on August 27 that the only evidence before the committee so far was an unsigned letter from Mr Glenn, a signed letter from Mr Peters and an "actual physical appearance" by Mr Peters and his lawyer Brian Henry.
Mr Peters on the same day went a step further. Referring to Mr Glenn's mention of a meeting in Sydney before the election, the MP asked Prime Minister Helen Clark in Parliament what that suggested "with regard to whose recollection may be true or false?"
Dr Cullen the next day said Mr Glenn was "confused" - because he had written in an email that he made a donation to New Zealand First, and in a letter to the privileges committee said the donation was for legal fees.
Mr Jones said yesterday that he had never called Mr Glenn a liar. "I've said you contradicted yourself ... That's all I believe I've ever said."
OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN
Dail Jones' role in the Peters saga:
* Revealed a big mystery deposit in NZ First's account - which set off the original donations row.
* Said after Mr Glenn wrote to the privileges committee: "I think Mr Glenn's credibility is at stake" - a comment that apparently infuriated the expat billionaire enough to make him come to NZ.
