Mayor Rob Ford has called the Toronto Star “pathological liars” for its reporting over the last year about his battle with alcohol, lackluster attendance, misuse of city resources and dealings with alleged drug dealers in Etobicoke. The latest batch of search warrant documents released as part of Project Brazen 2 includes interviews with current and former members of the mayor’s staff and backs up the Star’s reporting. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Mayor Rob Ford and alcohol.

What the Star reported:

On March 26, 2013, following a year-long investigation, the Toronto Star revealed that numerous members of Ford’s staff believed the mayor had a drinking problem, that he drank to deal with stress and that he’d been asked to leave the Garrison military ball after showing up impaired.

The Ford brothers’ response:

Neither Rob nor Doug Ford have ever addressed the specific allegations laid out in that story. They denounced the reporting in general.

Mayor Ford that afternoon: “Number one, it’s an outright lie. It’s the Toronto Star going after me again and again and again. They’re relentless. That’s fine. I’ll go head to head with the Toronto Star anytime… it’s just lies after lies and lies. And I’ve called you pathological liars and you are, so why don’t you take me to court. Let the courts decide.”

That day AM640 host John Oakley asked Doug Ford if he denies that the mayor has a drinking problem: “Absolutely… It’s always, you notice with the Star, Johnny, it’s always hearsay, hearsay, hearsay; not only myself, you can call the deputy mayor or anyone, I’ve never seen Rob drink at any event. Ever.”

What the search warrant documents reveal:

On his state at the Garrison Ball:

On June 20, 2013, the mayor’s former chief of staff, Mark Towhey, told detectives that the night of the Garrison Ball, Rob Ford was definitely under the influence of something — although he could not smell alcohol. Towhey said the mayor needed help getting into the building. The document states: “Towhey told the mayor that if he attended this event that his career as a politician would be over.”

That the mayor drinks to deal with stress:

Former staff member Chris Fickel told police he believes the mayor drinks to cope with stress.

To Doug Ford’s suggestion that he’s never seen the mayor drink:

Fickel told police that he has never seen Ford drink at work but he has seen him drunk in the office before. Several former staff members told police they were made to purchase mickeys of vodka for the mayor. Fickel estimates it would be about 10 times per month. Former staff member Kia Nejatian told police he has mostly seen Ford intoxicated or impaired at evening events. Nejatian reported being asked to purchase alcohol twice a week. Mark Towhey told police he believes the mayor is an alcoholic. Ford’s former press secretary, George Christopoulos, said the mayor was in denial about his substance issues.

Mayor Rob Ford and his workload:

What the Star reported:

For the past year, the Star has been reporting on the mayor’s dwindling workload. In May 2012, the paper revealed that Ford was routinely not showing up for long-scheduled events, taking half the number of meetings as he did his first year in office, and often wouldn’t show up to work on any given day without notice.

What the mayor has said:

At council on Wednesday, Rob Ford said he’s never missed a day of work in his life. He claimed to have the best attendance on council.

What the search warrants reveal:

Former members of Ford’s staff support the Star’s reporting. Nejatian told police that Ford does not work full-time, although during the election he worked long hours. Police wrote that Nejatian told them, “Ford missed work and cancelled appointments frequently at the beginning of his position (although) lately Mayor Ford has been at the office more often and does not cancel appointments as much.”

Mayor Rob Ford and the photo outside 15 Windsor Rd.:

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What the Star reported:

The Star has reported that the yellow brick bungalow in the infamous photo of Ford is a place where people go to use drugs. In the photo, Ford is pictured with three young men. One — Anthony Smith — was killed days after the Garrison Ball story ran in March 2013. The other two were arrested in the guns and gangs raid known as Project Traveller.

What the mayor has said:

At council on Wednesday Ford said 15 Windsor is not a “crack house” and that he’d never met the three young men before. It was an “isolated” incident.

What the search warrants reveal:

Christopoulos told police that after the crack video story ran, the mayor confessed to knowing Anthony Smith, but he didn’t elaborate. A police informant identifies Windsor as a “crack house.” A police surveillance crew assigned to the property documents “activity at the residence consistent with drug trafficking.”

Mayor Rob Ford and using city resources for personal reasons:

What the Star reported:

In September 2012, it was revealed that the mayor was using city resources to run his football team. Despite the firestorm, the Star learned that the mayor continued to use his office staff and city cars for this private coaching hobby.

What the Ford brothers said:

The mayor — who launched his mayoral campaign against misuse of taxpayers’ money — has never specifically addressed the allegations. Instead Ford criticized the media for going after his staff, which no outlet did. “Each and every one of them works hard every day for the taxpayers of this great city. They put in at least 40 hours of work for taxpayers every week. Often more …They can’t defend themselves in the media against elected officials.”

On their weekly radio show, Doug Ford said staff assist with football on their private time because they want to.

What the search warrants reveal:

Several former Ford staff members told police they were frequently asked to assist the mayor with personal issues outside of city hall as part of their job. Fickel, who helped the mayor with Don Bosco, told police that he was also asked to change light bulbs on the Ford property, change batteries in his children’s toys, and buy cigarettes, alcohol, bleach, laundry detergent and diet Coke for the mayor’s wife. Police paraphrased Nejatian as saying, “it is common knowledge that Mayor Ford uses the staff for his personal reasons.” Nejatian has also been asked to change light bulbs and help with the Ford family computer. Dave Price, the mayor’s director of operations and logistics, told police that Towhey had told Ford it was inappropriate for him to use staff to help organize a party for Don Bosco football players.

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