Nick Clegg saw Lord Rennard's apology to four women who accused him of harassment weeks ago, a friend of the peer claimed. Lord Carlile said it was not released as the ex-Lib Dem chief executive did not want to damage the party before the elections.
Three of the four women who accused former Lib Dem chief executive Lord Rennard of harassment have called for the peer to be "kicked out" of the party.
Bridget Harris, a Lib Dem activist, has welcomed Lord Rennard's apology, but said his position within the Liberal Democrats was untenable.
"The real question here is, 'Should the Lib Dems accept him back on the benches in the House of Lords?' And I don't think the answer to that is yes", Ms Harris told BBC News.
Another activist who made the claims, Susan Gaszczak, said, "We really have got to draw a line under this. The only way to do that is actually to say, 'Lord Rennard, it's time to go.'"
A third woman, former Welsh Assembly candidate Alison Goldsworthy, told Channel 4 News the apology was a start, but stressed she thought Lord Rennard should be expelled from the Lib Dems.
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.