Toronto City Councillor Rob Ford, who has been in the news as of late, was arrested at his home yesterday and charged with assault and uttering death threats. The complainant’s name has not been officially released, but a police source said it is Ford’s wife, Renata, and that she has been injured in an apparent domestic incident.
This is the same Rob Ford who recently refused to apologize for some racist comments he made at City Hall.
The reason I decided to post this story was because of some comments I’ve been reading on the local blogs regarding Ford’s innocence. Here’s a sampling of comments :
Just remember that he’s innocent until proven guilty. There have been cases of women falsely accusing their husbands of various things to get back at them.Wifey knows that filing a charge will bring instant embarrassment, no matter how minor an incident…the timing of this is VERY suspicious.
…Miller’s cronies, seeing that Ford was seriously mulling a run for Mayor, decided to take a minor complaint, and use the police to blow it out of proportion.
All the facts aren’t in yet and everyone’s piling up on him.
I find it interesting that domestic violence, along with rape, are the only crimes where the assumption that the victim is lying is so immediate. For many, and despite the fact that Ford’s wife has reportedly sustained an injury during the assault, it is important that Ford’s innocence is publically maintained at the expense of his wife’s perceived guilt. In less than 24 hours, this case has become a very public display of Toronto’s feelings on domestic violence. Namely; we should assume she’s lying until the courts tell us otherwise. And even then we should be wary.
Ford’s lawyer, Dennis Morris, told the press that the incidents “never occurred and we’ll be pleading not guilty.”
Surprisingly, Ford will be back at work today. “That’s what I do; fight for the taxpayers, serve the taxpayers,” Ford told The Star last night.
I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather have my politicians frequent prostitutes than beat their wives.
I’m curious to find out how readers feel about Ford continuing to serve the City of Toronto while waiting for his court date?
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four comments
You beat me to it SMF! This whole thing made me think of the fiasco with the Port Coquitlam mayor who was also charged with assaulting women: http://www.shamelessmag.com/blog/2007...
When I heard that Ford had been arrested for assault, I immediately wondered if his alleged victim was a woman. I really hope the city council will deal with this in a more sensical matter than they dealt with the racist comments he made if it is true that he assaulted his wife - I hope they will do more than say "Oh goodness, I hope he apologises."
Posted by Thea
March 27, 2008, 10:10 AM
So we now have confirmation of what we already knew. Rob Ford is an asshole.
Who elected him, anyway?
Posted by Lindsay
March 27, 2008, 11:28 AM
The one thing that gave me pause was that Ford was told to leave his home—but also given custody of the children. I don't know how you can be accused of assaulting your wife in one breath and allowed to take custody of the children in the next, so I'm curious to see what happens to this story.
Given his past history, though, I can't say it looks particularly good for Ford. Outside of his supporters I haven't seen anyone say "the wife was lying."
Posted by Wesley
March 27, 2008, 1:01 PM
22 Division "Stormtroopers" how come this guy got out so soon and treated so quickly when others get stuck into the detention centres to languish.
He said/she said is an easy way to get someone out of the way and for a long time. They become a ghost in the system often when no one knows where the arrested party of this type of assault is and no one asks the other side of the story, or neighbours for input.
Abuse is awful but unproven accusations and ones ability to be taken as guilt at the word of another and often that person getting Government support to keep them after it happens and frequently jobs and homes are lost.
How many of these cases on average turn out to be arguments and what is abuse? Is it a constant, is it where somewhere loses their temper one night and tells another to go drop dead. Or tosses something in anger. Could be that simple and cost thousands in a lawyer and thousands of taxe payers money. Not to mention the beatings that go on when someone is accused of such a thing.
Has it become more prevalent or has it become easier to get someone you simply don't want around any more out of your house and out of your life!
Why wasn't he detained as others are on such charges?
Equality for all and show no favoritism or preferance which seems to be the case here compared to so many others you read about. It's not what you know it's who you know and who you are.
Posted by Scotty
March 29, 2008, 1 AM
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