Ford set to speak on Lisi arrest

(Update)
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is once again facing questions over his connection to someone involved in drugs. This comes as a close friend and occasional driver for the Mayor is arrested on marijuana dealing charges. Sean Leathong has been following this story and has the details.

Rob Ford says he was surprised to find out his friend, someone the Mayor visited a few times per week, had been arrested. Meanwhile Alexander Lisi, the mayors friend appears surprised at the 20 or so members of the media who attended his bail hearing.

Lisi was released Wednesday afternoon on $5000 bail. The 35-year old faces 4 drug related charges including marijuana trafficking and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. Over the past 10 months, Lisi has been regularly seen with the Mayor, often driving Ford to events, and one time running interference with the media.

And they are close enough that Ford addressed the situation early Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Ford says he is surprised by his friend’s arrest: “I’m surprised. I am very surprised. And it’s before the courts so obviously I can’t say much. He’s a friend. He’s a good guy and I don’t throw my friends under the bus. Like I said, he is straight and I never once seen the guy drink. Never seen him once do drugs so I am surprised.”

The police had been doing surveillance on Lisi for some time and though Mayor Ford was not aware of this, he says that he is not worried.

The Mayor is now heading to Austin, Texas for a trade mission and Alexander Lisi will appear again in court on November 12th.