The Prime Minister's Director of Communications is breathing a little easier this week.

Last week, Sandra Buckler was under fire for comments she had to retract concerning the military's handling of detainees in Afghanistan.

A dreaded position for any communications person. They much prefer to be spinning stories rather than being part of them.

Today, Buckler was able to breeze past a gaggle of journalists waiting outside the Tory caucus room without having any questions shouted at her.

Unfortunately for the PMO, Buckler's relief comes at least in part because attention has turned to her colleague, press secretary Dimitri Soudas.

He is in the news today for allegedly meeting with ministerial officials and asking them to negotiate a favourable deal with a Montreal real estate company.

Soudas wasn't seen anywhere near the journalists looking for him this afternoon — but he did speak earlier in the morning.

He says nothing came of the meeting and it is now before the courts.