‘Offensive and false’: Alberta premier’s office denies Smith urged U.S. to interfere in federal election [Video]

The office of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is vehemently denying accusations that she asked the U.S. to interfere in Canadian federal politics, as comments Smith made during an interview with an American news outlet earlier this month made waves this weekend.

Smith, along with other Canadian political leaders, has been lobbying U.S. counterparts against placing the stiff tariffs President Donald Trump wants on Canadian goods. Part of her effort has included speaking with American news media.

During a March 8 interview with Breitbart, a right-wing U.S. media company, Smith said the Conservative Party of Canada was far ahead of the governing Liberal Party in polls before the trade war. But the threat of “unjust and unfair tariffs” had boosted Liberal support.

Smith told U.S. administration officials that she hoped “we could put things on pause,” so Canada could get through an election, she told Breitbart. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is …