Mayor Rob Ford took to the radio airwaves Sunday to again deny an ex-mayoral candidate’s claims that he made a suggestive comment and groped her at an event last week.
Ford briefly addressed the accusations as he hosted his weekly radio talk show on Newstalk 1010, where he was joined by his brother and co-host, Coun. Doug Ford, and Coun. Frances Nunziata.
Early in the two-hour show, the mayor told listeners that Sarah Thomson’s claims are false and were part of a set-up, and that he is tired of “wasting time” on the matter.
“When people want to make up stories, that’s their prerogative," Rob Ford said during the radio show.
The mayor used the call-in radio program, “The City,” as a platform to speak publicly about Thomson’s claims for the first time.
Previously, Ford addressed the matter with a written statement that was released by his office, followed by an interview with the Toronto Sun.
During the radio show, Doug Ford called the accusations “disgusting” before Rob Ford ended the discussion and cut to a break. When the show resumed, the Fords and Nunziata discussed other topics.
On Sunday, Thomson told CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles she didn't listen to Ford's comments, so she was not prepared to respond.
A short time later Thomson took to her Facebook page to respond, saying Ford was attempting to make her appear "hysterical or crazy" because of her claims.
Thomson, who ran for mayor against Rob Ford in 2010 and is rumoured to be a potential candidate in the next municipal election, claims the mayor suggested that she should have joined him on his recent trip to Florida because his wife wasn't there, and then grabbed her buttocks as the two posed for a photo at an event held by the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee last Thursday night.
When the mayor departed for Florida on Feb. 27, his wife and children were at his side and the family walked together through a security checkpoint toward the departures area at Pearson International Airport.
Thomson made the claims on her Facebook page when she posted a photo of her and Ford at the event.
During an interview with CP24 last Friday, Thomson said she doesn’t think the mayor was under the influence of alcohol, but something was “wrong” with him.
Two Richmond Hill councillors, Greg Beros and Carmine Perrelli, later told CP24 that Ford did not appear to be under the influence of any substance when they spoke to him at the event.
The councillors said Thomson made the allegations to them at the event, and she then told a friend that they should approach the mayor in an effort to get him to touch her inappropriately and capture the moment on camera.
On his radio show, the mayor thanked the councillors and shot back at Thomson, telling his listeners that he doesn’t know if Thomson is “playing with a full deck.”
Ford did not indicate if he plans to pursue legal action against Thomson, who previously said she did not want to pursue criminal charges but admitted she may consult a lawyer.
Meanwhile, on Sunday’s radio show, the Ford brothers marked the one-year anniversary of the program.
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