But he did do it - and we did try to reach Erwin Contreras to get his take on why - but our requests for comment went unanswered.
And while the UDP is enthusiastically wringing its hands of the former Senior Minister - it's not that easy. He was a key player in the Barrow administration for 12 long years.
And the disavowal dance is doubly difficult for Peyrefitte since the attorney of record for Portico is his former law partner David Morales. Arguably, he would be the one responsible for preparing that Definitive Agreement.
Jules Vasquez challenged Peyrefitte on this.
Jules Vasquez
"But you are twice caught on this, because you are caught both, because it's your colleague in cabinet, your senior party member, the man above you in the UDP hierarchy at the time who signed it initially and is the only person who has signed it and second, it comes from your law chambers, Morales and Peyreffite. The attorney of record for Portico is your law partner, Mr. Morales. You are caught by this. You cannot create any degrees of separation. You are twice caught."
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"That's a very nice try, Jules, but, no, first of all, that law firm has been severed. Secondly, secondly..."
Jules Vasquez
"It wasn't severed at the time."
Mike Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"...under the law. Under the law, once you become a government minister, my name is taken off the letterhead. Even my name is taken off the letterhead of that law firm, because it has to be a distance. When I became a minister, I had to disassociate myself totally from the firm. I don't know. I don't know if these people believe that because they could go to my law partner at the time since I was AG and that would give them any better chance, I don't know if they believe that, but they had it totally wrong, and they don't know me at all."
