Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader Patrick Brown has stepped down amid allegations of sexual misconduct in a press conference early Thursday morning.
In a statement Brown says he will remain on as a MPP while "I definitively clear my name from these false allegations."
The allegations date back to when Brown was a federal member of parliament for Barrie, Ontario.
A visibly emotional Brown told a news conference at Queen's Park Wednesday night he was made aware of the allegations earlier in the day, but he did not provide details on what those allegations are.
Brown says he "categorically" denies "troubling allegations" about his conduct.
EXCLUSIVE: Two women come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown which he denies https://t.co/82k3GxACIs
— CTV News (@CTVNews) January 25, 2018
The PC party says it will select an interim leader on Friday but the party's deputy leaders would not saw whether the person would lead them in the scheduled June election or if a leadership race would be held.
Ontario PC press secretary Nick Bergamini, staffer Ken Bossenkool and deputy campaign manager Joshua Workman all tweeted their resignations after Browns initial refusal to step down.