TORONTO – Former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson is now suggesting that Mayor Rob Ford may have been under the influence of cocaine or other drugs when he allegedly groped her while they were taking a photograph.
In an interview on the radio station Kiss 92.5, Thomson retold her story and suggested Ford was high during the alleged groping.
Speaking to Global News, Thomson reiterated her claim, saying she is positive Ford was under the influence of something.
“He was. I know he was. I’ve talked to people over the weekend who also confirm that he was,” Thomson said. “I looked it up and I think the symptoms point to various things, he could have diabetes, he could have been on drugs, I’m not sure.”
Thomson has provided no evidence to support her allegation that Ford may have been using drugs despite her repeated claims to various media outlets.
Ford has not responded to Thomson’s allegations of substance use.
On his weekly Sunday radio show, dismissed the allegations of groping saying he didn’t want to “waste any more time on this.”
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Thomson posted a photo of herself with Ford on her Facebook page early Friday after attending a Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee event.
She wrote: “Thought it was a friendly hello to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at the CJPAC Action Party tonight until he suggested I should have been in Florida with him last week because his wife wasn’t there. Seriously wanted to punch him in the face. Happy International Women’s Day!”
Shortly after the image was posted, Thomson added a second comment.
“I’ve never seen him so out of it. I know I shouldn’t be pissed but after spending 10 months on the campaign trail together you expect a little bit of respect at the very least for my husband.”
Ford issued a statement Friday denying Thomson’s allegations, calling them “absolutely, completely false.”
“What is more surprising is that a woman who has aspired to be a civic leader would cry wolf on a day where we should be celebrating women across the globe,” Ford said in his statement.
During Sunday’s radio program Ford said several people have come to his defence.
“I want to thank the Richmond Hill councillors for coming forward and saying that it was a setup,” the mayor said.
“I must have taken 500 pictures and there was never an issue with anyone else,” Ford said. “Except for this lady, who in my personal opinion, I’ve always said, I don’t know if she’s playing with a full deck.”
However, Thomson said on Kiss 92.5 Monday that Ford could take her to court if he did not grope her.
“If I am lying, take me to court and sue me,” Thomson said on Kiss 92.5.
Thomson responded with a formal statement:
Early Friday morning, I posted a photo to my Facebook and reported that Mayor Rob Ford made suggestive comments and groped me at a CJPAC party.
Since then, the Mayor, his supporters and conservative media agencies have denied my claims, impugned my character and attacked my credibility.
I did not make these accusations lightly. I admit I did not handle the press perfectly, but I had just gone through a very rattling experience.
Over the past few days people have accused me of hating the Mayor and this I must repeat is not the case. I have always found him to be respectful, somewhat shy, but professional. While things have been competitive between us, I have always appreciated his stand on the need for subway expansion.
I am not the kind of woman who sees chauvinism everywhere or believes in reckless denunciations. But Mayor Ford was behaving inappropriately, and there was clearly something wrong with him during the CJPAC event.
He must be discouraged from over indulging to the point where he is groping or making lewd comments, and women should not put up with it when it happens. The Mayor was outrageous, he acted horribly, and I won’t be intimidated by the whitewashing he has tried so hard to generate.
Decades ago powerful men who sexually assaulted women would call them “hysterical,” or “crazy” to debase their credibility. It pushed many assaulted women into silence. Today Mayor Ford stated that he wondered if I was “playing with a full deck” try to discredit me. He will not push me into silence and I hope his accusations do not re-ignite the old fears that once silenced women.
We need an ongoing dialogue to ensure respect for women in the workplace and to create an inclusive and safe society for all.
Unlike the Mayor, I do not have a history of lying about my behaviour. Mayor Ford has lied publicly numerous times. He denied the drunken incident where he verbally assaulted a Durham couple during a hockey game but later admitted to it. And During 2010 civic election campaign he denied being arrested for pot possession in Florida and then admitted it and another DUI charge.
The Mayor has a history of denial but usually owns up to his mistakes once the facts become overwhelming and I expect that he will eventually own up to this one.
— with files from Adam Frisk and Erika Tucker
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