Rob Ford scandal: Sources tell Star mayor knew location of video

Even the most ardent acolytes of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford should be starting to question daily reports that the man at the centre of the internationally-watched crack video scandal knows more than he is admitting to know.

Ford, who has said he does not smoke crack cocaine and has denied the existence of a video of him smoking from a crack pipe, has been towing a consistently-shifting line about how little truth there is in allegations made by two news organizations, and a bevy of doozies from other news groups (even those seen as close allies) in their wake.

A new report from the Toronto Star cites sources very close to the mayor confirming that just one day after reports of the video surfaced, Ford told his closest advisers not to worry about the video because he knew where the video was.

The report says during a May 17 strategy session with a handful of his inner circle, Ford shared the address where the video was being held (two apartments on the 17th floor of a Dixon Rd. apartment complex).

[ Related: Rob Ford ducks questions on drug video as new ones emerge ]

It would be a week before Ford would publicly deny smoking crack and reject the notion that a video existed. Since then, details have surfaced that a loyal staffer discussed going to find the video, the mayor's communication staff quit, police interviewed members of Ford's team and police arrested a second suspect in connected to the death of a man tied to the video.

That last one is fresh today, compliments of the Globe and Mail.

Here is why the latest news should give pause to members of Ford Nation, who deny any possibility that the mayor is in the wrong. The Star report on the May 17 strategy session is thick with detail.

They know who was in the meeting (staffer David Price, then deputy chief of staff Earl Provost, now-resigned press secretary George Christopoulos, among others) and who wasn't (now-fired chief of staff Mark Towhey and now-resigned deputy press secretary Isaac Ransom).

They have reached out to all of them with a list assertions made in the report and did not receive denials (or comment) from any of them, including the mayor and brother/councillor Doug Ford.

It follows reports that Ford's remaining staff was ordered to destroy the email and documents of Towhey, Chistopoulos and Ransom and an admission from the Ford-friendly Toronto Sun that they, too, had been contacted by those who purportedly possessed the video.

Those in Ford's inner circle, and those who have been cast out, are starting to drift away from the talking points issued on behalf of the mayor. They are starting to talk and what they are saying is not consistent with what the mayor has said.

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A quick refresh on what got us to this point.

Earlier this month, reporters with the Toronto Star and Gawker separately alleged they were shown a video of the mayor in an inebriated state smoking from a crack pipe and making racist and homophobic statements.

Ford called the allegations "ridiculous" and then dodged further questions for a full week.

During that time he fired Towhey (after Towhey reportedly urged he go into rehab) and was publicly urged by half of his executive committee to address the allegations for the good of the city.

"I do not smoke crack cocaine, nor am I addicited to crack cocaine," Ford said at press conference, without taking questions.

Then there was the Globe and Mail report that brother/councillor Doug Ford and Price, the mayor's long-time associate and a member of his staff, were big-time hash dealers in their youth. Doug Ford has denied the allegations, Price has dodged questions.

Then things took a dark turn. Following the resignation of Ford's top communications advisors, it was reported that shortly after the scandal broke, Price had asked Towhey what they should do if they "hypothetically" knew where the video was being held, even sharing the address. Towhey took the information to police and Price was forced to give a statement.

After that, the video was tied to the March shooting death of Anthony Smith, who was seen in a picture of Ford claimed to have been taken the night the video was shot.

It has been alleged Smith was shot by those who wanted to sell the video tape. Gawker, who successfully raised $200,000 to buy the video, now says those looking to sell have gone to ground. They had claimed their contact wanted the money so he could go to Alberta and start a new life.

The Globe reported on Thursday that Alberta police have arrested Hanad Mohamed, of Toronto, who has been charged with first-degree murder in Smith's death. He is the second person to be charged.

All this does not seem enough to shake members of Ford Nation – and credit to them for sticking by their man. But perhaps, just perhaps, the last allegation that Ford knew the video existed and shared details with his inner circle should prompt some to ask questions.

Questions about what Ford knows, about whether he has lied about what he knows, and what that means.