There are many layers to the Oliphant Commission.

On the surface, there is the raw testimony people (recently dubbed Oliphantics or Oliphanatics) can see when they turn on the TV or fire-up the computer.

In the room itself, there is in an even richer scene.

Under the blinding lights, people can watch former prime minister Brian Mulroney enter the room in an almost ceremonial procession that includes RCMP officers, his wife Mila, his publicist Robin Sears and his lawyer Guy Pratte. Then there are the lesser-known lawyers, security guards, camera operators, photographers, bloggers, reporters and courtroom staff who are all carrying out their tasks.

The commission also has a presence in the ether.

Online, Kady O’Malley from Maclean's offers non-stop, thumb-numbing live-blogging. For those looking for a decidedly pro-Mulroney take on things, there’s mulroneymediaroom.com.

And then there’s the twittering.

A member of the public recently tweeted: "If you're watching Newsworld, you just saw me! I walked by in a white shirt. Press scrum about to begin."

Dominating coverage on Twitter is Canwest News reporter David Akin, who offers a constant stream of commentary, updates and links to his blog.

Coming in a close second, are public affairs consultants Joseph Lavoie and Dan Robertson.

Here is a sample of tweets from Lavoie: "Mulroney: Terminated retainer with Schreiber because of criminal charges laid against Schreiber in 1999." And, "In case you missed it, Mulroney did not have a close relationship with Schreiber while he was PM."

Among Robertson’s tweets: "KHS's assertions about hiring MBM to lobby domestically are a smoldering ruin. MBM details his work" and "Wishing KHS a speedy recovery and safe flight."

The thing is, most members of the general public might not know Lavoie and Robertson work for Navigator, the public relations firm retained by Mulroney. It's the same firm that employs his publicist, Sears.

Akin seemed to think this was something the public needed to know because after two days of testimony, Akin posted this: "Reminder for #oli @DanRobertson + @josephlavoie work for MBM's public relations firm." It seems to have resonated. Here’s a recent tweet from Robertson, "A reminder that I am employed by the firm handling MBM's media relations."

— Alison Crawford