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  "path": "/politics/nicola-sturgeon-no-comment-police-interview-lawyer-fury-snp",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-27T23:31:49.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "admitted embezzling more than £400,000",
    "Peter Murrell embezzling scandal branded 'biggest cover-up in Scottish political history'",
    "Nicola Sturgeon urged to 'come clean on exactly what she knew' about Peter Murrell's £400k splurge",
    "Scottish Parliament to vote on second independence referendum in just DAYS",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nNicola Sturgeon’s lawyer has defended her decision to repeatedly answer \"no comment\" during police questioning.\n\nAamer Anwar spoke out after it emerged the former SNP leader remained silent throughout an interview at Falkirk police station in June 2023 as part of Operation Branchform.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe intervention comes days after her estranged husband Peter Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP.\n\nMr Anwar said the advice for Ms Sturgeon to answer \"no comment\" came from a former senior crown counsel and reflected standard legal guidance.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nHe rejected suggestions the strategy had hindered the investigation.\n\nMr Murrell pleaded guilty on Monday to misappropriating party funds over a 12-year period.\n\nThe money was used to purchase items including a motorhome, vehicles, jewellery and luxury goods, with some gifts allegedly given to Ms Sturgeon.\n\nThe former First Minister has maintained she had no knowledge or suspicion that SNP funds were being used for personal spending.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Anwar said responsibility for signing off party accounts rested with the treasurer rather than Ms Sturgeon.\n\nHe also dismissed claims she would necessarily have known about purchases allegedly made by her husband during her time leading Scotland.\n\nScottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticised Ms Sturgeon’s conduct, comparing her silence to tactics used by gangsters.\n\n\"Nicola Sturgeon spent hours saying 'no comment' when questioned by police (that's what organised criminals do),\" Mr Findlay wrote on social media.\n\n### SNP - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * Peter Murrell embezzling scandal branded 'biggest cover-up in Scottish political history'\n  * Nicola Sturgeon urged to 'come clean on exactly what she knew' about Peter Murrell's £400k splurge\n  * Scottish Parliament to vote on second independence referendum in just DAYS\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSpeaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, he added: \"This is someone who told the public at the time she co-operated fully with police. I think that is at odds with that.\"\n\nThe comments referred to Ms Sturgeon’s previous public pledge to cooperate with police following Mr Murrell’s arrest in April 2023.\n\nMr Anwar branded the remarks \"deeply worrying\", arguing that advising clients to answer \"no comment\" is routine practice in Scottish criminal investigations.\n\nHe said Ms Sturgeon later insisted on submitting a detailed written statement responding to police questions.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Anwar also criticised what he described as \"armchair detectives\" attempting to imply criminality where no charges had been brought.\n\n\"Had there been any evidence of criminality against Ms Sturgeon, then there can be no doubt that she would have been charged, prosecuted and presently be behind bars,\" Mr Anwar said.\n\nBoth Ms Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were informed in March 2025 that they were no longer under investigation.\n\nMr Murrell remains in custody ahead of sentencing next month.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nicola Sturgeon's lawyer speaks out amid fury over ex-SNP leader's 'no comment' police interview"
}