Gawker Claims Video Exists of Rob Ford Smoking Crack

[Phil C. McNasty]

Here's a recap of what happened in court this morning:


1. Alexander Lisi was granted $5,000 no-deposit bail on extortion charge.

2. He was released into the custody of his father.

3. Ordered not to have any contact with Elaine and Fabio Basso, who live at suspected drug house.

4. Ordered not to have contact with Mohamed Siad, the accused drug dealer who showed two Toronto Star reporters a cell phone video of the mayor appearing to smoke from a crack cocaine pipe.

5. Lisi faces some cell phone restrictions.

6. Evidence is under a publication ban.

7. Lisi is back in court Dec. 6

 

[slowandeasy]

HEYHEY.. Are you inclined to suggest that the police now have it out for Ford??? What benefit would there be, for the police, for making this shit up??

If the video was just a fake (or just him smoking pot) then why was Lisi trying to extort it from people? Additionally, why go to any trouble of lying about it? Mayor Ford has already been caught smoking pot, as well he fully admitted to smoking plenty of it when asked recently.. So why lie about this one particular incident??

As for the dingbat who babbled something about the "Homo Left" who had it out for the mayor.. Get a grip.. It appears, now, that the conspiracy was by Ford and/or his entourage to COVER UP the tape by Ford, not by the "Homo Left" to insinuate that the tape existed.

As far as the police is concerned, their actions seem to be trying to protect Ford to their detriment. After the 10th or so time that they saw Rob Ford and Lisi meeting, they should have
gotten the proper clearance to pull Ford over, search his vehicle and arrest him for Possession. Instead it looks to me like Blair probably went to Ford and tried let him know that when the
evidence hit the fan, he would probably have to resign. Either that or they figured he was involved in selling drugs or just figured they would go after the supplier rather than the user.

Heard Doug Ford doing an interview on the radio this morning and complaining about Bill Blair giving his opinion about the issue.

 

[slowandeasy]

I thought the charge was extortion.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...n-court-on-extortion-charges/article15208534/

I thought the initial charge was for distributing when they picked him up outside the drycleaners, and then they brought him back in on extortion charges.. not sure....

Can you "extort" something from drug dealers? Can you Rob someone who is illegally possessing something?

 

[slowandeasy]

This is what it looked like to me all along (purely speculative, of course).

1. Gawker and Star stories come out
2. Ford refuses to comment for a week
3. During this week Ford (via his associates) are able to procure the video (buy it, get it via extortion, whatever)
4. Thinking the video will never again be seen by anyone, Ford suddenly decides to comment that he 'can't comment on a video that does not exist' (little does he know, even deleted files can be recovered from HDDs, and the video still actually existed)

Wow.. I did not realize this, but I actually have enjoyed all of this Rob Ford intrigue and debating about it on this forum. It makes the stupid people in my life seem a lot less stupid...

 

[KBear]

Looks like the extortion relates to the people thought to be in possession or know about the cell phone video, Siad, Elaine & Fabio.

For Lisi to be convicted of extortion, do the police need victims willing to testify in court?

 

[oldjones]

This is what it looked like to me all along (purely speculative, of course).

1. Gawker and Star stories come out
2. Ford refuses to comment for a week
3. During this week Ford (via his associates) are able to procure the video (buy it, get it via extortion, whatever)
4. Thinking the video will never again be seen by anyone, Ford suddenly decides to comment that he 'can't comment on a video that does not exist' (little does he know, even deleted files can be recovered from HDDs, and the video still actually existed)

You're misquoting him. What Ford finally said, in response to the Gawker/Star stories was that he couldn't comment on a video that may not exist. It was a good while after that the he began to say 'doesn't exist'.

 

[AdamH]

You're misquoting him. What Ford finally said, in response to the Gawker/Star stories was that he couldn't comment on a video that may not exist. It was a good while after that the he began to say 'doesn't exist'.

I think his words were "On a video I haven't seen OR doesn't exist".

 

[oldjones]

I thought the initial charge was for distributing when they picked him up outside the drycleaners, and then they brought him back in on extortion charges.. not sure....

Can you "extort" something from drug dealers? Can you Rob someone who is illegally possessing something?

There's no such drug charge as distributing, and the occupation of the victim has nothing to do with a charge of robbing or extorting. If you acquire stolen property you're in trouble even if you bought it in ignorance. You didn't rob the original thief of goods that were his, but you could still get charged, or at best have to return the goods. Being on your own to collect your money from the thief might tempt even you or I to try extortion.

 

[oldjones]

I think his words were "On a video I haven't seen OR doesn't exist".

Quite right. Which was always a far piece from saying no such video could exist since he'd never smoked crack or hung with dealers. Apologies to givemebrain

 

[Ridgeman08]

You're misquoting him. What Ford finally said, in response to the Gawker/Star stories was that he couldn't comment on a video that "may" not exist. It was a good while after that the he began to say 'doesn't exist'.

Apparently he played the same game as the newspapers... :hand:

(Bold typeface not working for me either...)

 

[AdamH]

Quite right. Which was always a far piece from saying no such video could exist since I've never smoked crack or hung with dealers.

It always struck me as so obvious that I was actually leaning toward it not being true.. I kinda figured that Rob Ford was just fucking with the media by never coming out right and declaring "I have never smoked crack" or "If there is a video then it is a fabrication.".. Add to that the other weird things (him showing up with his head shaved the day after this was announced, the weird meeting with Lisi, the resignation of half his staff) and I kinda figured that there was NO WAY it could be THIS OBVIOUS... Nobody could possibly be THIS stupid.. As it turns out, I was wrong..

 

[Ridgeman08]

Nobody could possibly be THIS stupid.. As it turns out, I was wrong..

I echoed that same sentiment 24 hrs or so ago...

 

[groggy]

Homosexual behaviour causes a deadly, infectious, incurable and completely preventable anal disease that has affected the entire World in a profoundly destructive way.
.

This is the kind really stupid idiot who still supports Ford.
Lord help us all.

 

[Ridgeman08]

This is the kind really stupid idiot who still supports Ford.
Lord help us all.

Stupidity shows no prejudice...

 

[oldjones]

Apparently he played the same game as the newspapers... :hand:

(Bold typeface not working for me either...)

Which is the same game Blair played yesterday, and the cop played when asking for the Search Warrant. It's called sticking to the facts and not saying more than you know to be true. That way, new facts coming to light cannot show you up as a liar. Which accounts for all the 'appears to' and 'seemed as if' wordings that so many who wanted black and white conclusions found so frustrating.

We should all keep in mind that Briar did not say the police had the Gawker/Star video. What he said was they had recovered digital imagery from a deleted file that was consistent with the video that had been described in the media. Like the description in that original Star story it's still a long way from saying Rob's a crackhead, and like Ford's 'denial', it's still a long way from saying what is or is not to be seen in those images.

 

[IM469]

Wow, the Toronto Sun has come out like a spurned lover. They came just shy of suggesting the death penalty.

 

[Ridgeman08]

Which is the same game Blair played yesterday, and the cop played when asking for the Search Warrant. It's called sticking to the facts and not saying more than you know to be true. That way, new facts coming to light cannot show you up as a liar. Which accounts for all the 'appears to' and 'seemed as if' wordings that so many who wanted black and white conclusions found so frustrating.

We should all keep in mind that Briar did not say the police had the Gawker/Star video. What he said was they had recovered digital imagery from a deleted file that was consistent with the video that had been described in the media. Like the description in that original Star story it's still a long way from saying Rob's a crackhead, and like Ford's 'denial', it's still a long way from saying what is or is not to be seen in those images.

Precisely.

That being the case, and in light of my current opinion, I'm more comfortable placing my trust in the police chief, than any journalist and any politician.

 

[poker]

Come on Jon stop trolling. You and I both know it does not matter if Ford (or any other executive) smokes crack and hangs around with drug dealers, or hangs out in drug dens in his private life,
on Mars or Venus. The fact that he is doing it suggest that his judgement in making good decisions is impaired (in Fords case it seems to be completely f'ed up) meaning that we cannot trust him to do his job as the Mayor of our city. I don't want to make this a long drawn out post, so I will end it there.

You are trying to talk reason to a known homophobic, and racist..... kudo's for trying, but please don't hold your breath.

 

[groggy]

Boingboing has drunk Robs callin to defend himself.

Will the hilarity never end?

 

[shack]

Precisely.

That being the case, and in light of my current opinion, I'm more comfortable placing my trust in the police chief, than any journalist and any politician.

Which is what many of us were saying all along. Give us a source/evidence that is more reliable/convincing. Never said he was innocent. We were unsure.

Soon as the cops give it credibility (not necessarily ironclad proof) that's good enough for me.

In hindsight, I have no regrets for my previous posts/positions on the topics. As they unfolded, I felt that I, and others, took a measured stance. We asked for more, got it and have now quickly taken a position instead of being unsure.