rob ford

The latest developments in the Rob Ford scandal

It's been four days since a stack of court documents detailing more than 100 clandestine interactions between Mayor Rob Ford and alleged drug dealer Sandro Lisi were made public, and a weekend now separates us from police chief Bill Blair's stunning announcement that investigators have a copy of the alleged drug video.

The last few days have raised even more questions. What exactly is contained in the second tape Bill Blair mentioned? What details were captured during the phone taps conducted by Toronto police? Will the video (or videos) be made public as Ford claims he wants? Here's what has happened since Thursday's bombshells.

FORD "VERY INTOXICATED" ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY 2012

CBC News reported Friday that Ford was "very intoxicated" in his office on St. Patrick's Day 2012. The allegation stems from a report by city hall security staff written the night of the incident that claimed the mayor returned to his office around 2 a.m. and "had problems walking." He swore at senior aide Earl Provost and made undisclosed allegations about Cllrs. Josh Colle and Ana Bailao.

The security staff shielded Ford from public view because of his condition and reported he was at the main desk around 2:30 a.m. with a "half-empty bottle of St-Remy French brandy." He left in a taxi and was reportedly courteous despite his state.

FORD MEETS WITH DEPUTY MAYOR NORM KELLY

Rob Ford was handed with a stack of written concerns from six members of his executive committee in a private meeting with Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly on Saturday. The mayor didn't answer questions from reporters but Kelly confirmed Ford would make a statement on his weekly radio show Sunday afternoon.

FORD CALLS FOR VIDEO TO BE RELEASED ON NEWSTALK 1010

Rob Ford used his weekly Newstalk 1010 show to apologize for drunken incidents on St. Patrick's Day 2012 and Taste of the Danforth 2013 and several other unnamed controversies, including talking on the phone while driving.

"All I can do right now is apologize for the mistakes. I sincerely apologize to my family, to the citizens and taxpayers of this great city, and to my colleagues on city council. Unfortunately I cannot change the past. I can just move forward and learn from the past, which I assure you I am doing," he said.

Ford didn't directly address drug use, choosing to focus instead on alcohol, but later appeared to deny using crack cocaine in a phone interview on AM640. Ford said he would be getting a driver but would continue to have "a couple of cold" ones in private.

DENNIS MORRIS SAYS VIDEO WILL LIKELY STAY HIDDEN, FOR NOW

A short time after Ford went off air and angrily fought his way through a crowd of media in the Newstalk 1010 parking garage, Dennis Morris, the mayor's lawyer, said police would probably be unable to release the video per Ford's wishes due to the way the legal system is set up.

That doesn't mean it won't be released, or at least shown in court, as part of the upcoming drug and extortion trial of Sandro Lisi. Presumably Ford hopes people will either dispute its contents or let him off the hook with an apology.

DEPUTY MAYOR NORM KELLY ACCEPTS FORD'S APOLOGY

Kelly said "there will always be eyes" on Ford as a result of his transgression and accepted his apology for public drinking.. The Deputy Mayor also wants the driver Ford promised to hire vetted by city council. "So he's always with someone ... he's always, in that sense, behaving in public."

ROB FORD INTERVIEWED ON THE JOHN OAKLEY SHOW

Rob Ford appeared on John Oakley's AM640 show this morning. "I can assure you, Johnny, I do not use drugs - I drink," he said. Ford also denied that he could be a functioning alcoholic and accused Oakley of being "sarcastic."

The mayor said that anyone on his executive committee thinking of quitting should step aside. "Anybody who wants to go, go."

"I'm not leaving," he added, when asked about taking time off.

What did you think of Rob Ford's apology? Should he have gone further and addressed his relationship with Sandro Lisi and the video his alleged drug use? Do you think he can survive until the next election?

TAIWANESE NEWS ANIMATION

Ok, so this might not be a development per se, but this animation about the Rob Ford Saga from a Taiwanese news agency is priceless.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Chris Bateman/blogTO


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