Video made public of ex-Toronto mayor smoking crack

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont. (AA) – The shocking video showing Toronto’s former Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine was released Thursday after an extortion charge against the late mayor’s friend was dropped in a Toronto court.

The video, shot in February 2013, had been under a publication ban because it was entered into evidence in the extortion charge against Alexander Lisi, Canadian media reported.

Ford, 46, died of cancer in March.

He made international headlines for his drug use and profanity, and the video – its existence was first reported by Canadian media in May 2013 but Ford vehemently denied he smoked crack cocaine – clearly shows both behaviors.

It features Ford cursing and babbling while holding a crack pipe he lights up and inhales.

The video scandal resulted in a police investigation but Ford was never charged. Several Canadian media outlets had copies of the video and after Thursday’s court hearing, the video was posted on YouTube.

Ford eventually admitted he did abuse drugs, including alcohol, and entered a rehabilitation facility.

Upon release, the controversial Ford began a campaign for a second four-year term as mayor but withdrew in September 2014 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Instead, his brother, Doug, replaced Rob in the mayoral race, but he lost to current mayor John Tory.

Rob ran for and won a seat on council.

Lisi had been charged with using threats in a bid to obtain the video, shot on a cellphone.

In court Thursday, a deal was struck that the extortion charge would be dropped while Lisi agreed to enter into a peace bond – a document pledging that the signer will be of good behavior.

Mohamed Siad, who secretly shot the video with his cellphone and tried to sell it to the Toronto Star newspaper and Gawker, was sentenced in July 2015 by a Canadian court to eight years in jail for trafficking in guns and drugs, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.