Beleaguered OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri says that he has offered to resign several times, but Prime Minister Joseph Muscat never accepted.

The Malta Independent this afternoon received a bulk email, with as much as “Dear friend” introduction, from Mr Schembri, via an email address registered with the Labour Party. Mr Schembri holds no position in the PL, but is the OPM chief of staff.

In the email, Mr Schembri specifically attacks The Times and The Malta Independent, saying he “wanted to write to you personally today in direct response to some of the things that have been written about me” in the said newspapers.

The email goes on to repeat what he said in an official statement to rebut The Sunday Times editorial yesterday.

Later on, he says that “Joseph Muscat isn’t just my boss – he is my best friend. And I have offered my resignation on several occasions – not because I am guilty of what our opponents say, but because I do not want to be a distraction from the incredible job he is doing. He has always urged me to stay, that what we are doing for the country is important.”

He said that the attacks against him are that he tried to profit “from my position in government. I don’t like pointing this out, but my family business did well enough that I achieved financial security over a decade ago.”

He then urged the receiver of the email to send it to “ten friends”, adding that the last months “have been awful, not so much for me, but my family.”

Below the top and bottom part of the email received from Keith Schembri.