"Do you know where he went? Did you guys sneak him out the back?"

Openness and transparency first, folks.

The same day Doug Ford faced serious questions about an audio recording that allegedly shows him selling “bogus” party memberships, the Ontario PC leader quite literally fled from journalists at a campaign stop in Brantford.

Physically shielded from the press by political operatives, Ford reportedly spent just over an hour posing for pictures before sneaking out the back door of the venue and being hastily whisked away.

At the event, journalists such as CTV’s Tina Yazdani tried to question Ford but found their efforts rebuffed by his handlers.

I tried asking Doug Ford if he believes he broke any election rules as he arrived in Brantford. He didn’t answer but his rep stepped in: “we made it clear we’re not taking any questions” #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/FUWBPJkZ2f — Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) May 24, 2018

Tried again. Doug Ford refusing to take questions in Brantford. Reporters pushed back. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/dJHBn3T1zL — Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) May 24, 2018

Reporters then tried for a third time to question Ford, only to discover that the PC leader had fled the scene through the back door.

We were waiting out front for Doug Ford after his Brantford event. But he was snuck out the back. We tried to find him but it was too late. He really didn’t want to take questions today. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/6NXIhXk6Ss — Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) May 24, 2018

On Thursday morning, an audio clip surfaced that allegedly shows Ford trying to sell “bogus” memberships on behalf of Etobicoke PC candidate – and staffer under former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford – Kinga Surma.

In addition, failed nomination candidate Pina Martino raised serious allegations of intimidation against the PC leader.

Here’s an email from the failed candidate (Pina Martino) to Mike Richmond, who served as the PC Party lawyer. Martino says Ford was “following me home” after she left the police station, then “waited in the vicinity of my home and followed me a second time.” pic.twitter.com/XVDuL9sD8Q — Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) May 24, 2018

Ontarians head to the polls on June the 7th.

Image: Tina Yazdani, Twitter