British Columbian Premier Resigns Amid Inquiry

British Columbian Premier Glen Clark resigned Saturday amid allegations that he used his political influence to help a friend get a lucrative casino license.

Clark said he visited Lt. Gov. Garde Gardom earlier Saturday and tendered his resignation.

He maintained, however, that he has done nothing wrong, despite an ongoing criminal investigation.

“I’m completely confident I will be exonerated,” Clark said.

Clark has been under fire since March after Royal Canadian Mounted Police raided his house. The authorities obtained a search warrant based on a belief “that documents relating to the exercise of influence or assistance by Clark” might be found at his residence.

No such documents were found, though officers left with some building plans.

No decision has been made whether to file charges, prosecutors said, but when details of the warrant were released, calls increased for the premier’s resignation.

Among other things, the warrant alleged that there was a plan to funnel some of the profits from the proposed casino back to Clark’s New Democratic Party.

It also said the premier’s home was renovated at little or no cost, with a casino investor allegedly paying for the work.

The provincial government initially approved a group’s application for a casino license, but it was later rescinded. Dimitrios Pilarinos, a friend of Clark’s, was a member of the group.