The hacker that tried to blackmail Hammonds Plains MLA Rick Burns demanded Bitcoin.

RCMP say it was Tuesday when they got the call from Burns that his computer was hacked and he was being extorted.

If funds were not paid, intimate images would be shared, and according to Burns, they were of his wife.

He refused payment and says releasing the images would be a gross violation of privacy.

In a statement, Wednesday, Burns said it was a huge violation of privacy and completely unacceptable.

“This is bigger than me. This is a gross violation of my wife’s privacy, and we are both victims of a grotesque crime,” adds Burns. “I realize that being an elected official comes with increased scrutiny. No one signs up for having their privacy violated in this manner and no politician’s partner deserves to be targeted this way.”

Premier Tim Houston said he was deeply troubled to learn about what happened.

“No one should ever be subjected to this kind of violation,” says Houston in a statement.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation.