TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford stormed out of a press conference at city hall on Wednesday after being asked about the character reference he wrote for his friend Alexander ‘Sandro’ Lisi.
A reporter asked the mayor for his reaction to Ontario attorney general John Gerretsen’s suggestion the use of city letter head for the letter of reference was ‘inappropriate.’
At that point the mayor walked away from the reporters at city hall:
Trailed by reporters asking questions, Ford walked through a restricted area near councillors’ offices and left through an emergency exit that leads to the underground garage where his car is parked.
He refused to answer questions from other reporters about Woodbine or the possibility of re-opening the casino debate.
The letter Ford wrote for Lisi was released to the public by a Toronto judge on Tuesday. The mayor praises Lisi in the letter, characterizing him as an “exemplary member” of his campaign team and possessing “exceptional leadership skills.”
“I have known Mr. Lisi for several years, and he has always conducted himself in a courteous and polite manner. I would be pleased to provide him with a reference,” the mayor wrote in the letter.
The letter was referred to during a June sentencing for Lisi on charges he threatened a woman. He is appealing the conviction.
A pre-sentencing report on Lisi’s trial claimed he planned to gain a job with the city of Toronto based on the endorsement the mayor, his “good friend.”
These letters came to light after Lisi was arrested on October 1 in Etobicoke on drug-related offences. He was charged with trafficking marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime, possession of marijuana and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and released on bail.
Ford has called Lisi “a friend” but has refused to answer questions about the letter. Leaving his office on Tuesday, Ford said he “writes lots of letters” for “a lot of people” but didn’t answer any questions posed by waiting reporters.
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