Toronto councillor resigns from FIFA committee amid sex assault trial

Embattled Toronto Coun. Michael Thompson has softly stepped distant from his assignment to a high-profile committee overseeing the city’s FIFA World Cup hosting duties.

The determination comes successful the mediate of an Ontario Court of Justice proceedings successful which Thompson is warring 2 counts of intersexual battle pursuing a Muskoka cottage vacation connected Canada Day play successful 2022.

Thompson has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty, but the proceedings has loomed implicit the Scarborough Centre councillor, who remains actively progressive successful metropolis business.

Thompson’s caput of communications, Royson James, confirmed the resignation to Global News. In an emailed statement, helium said the councillor informed Mayor Olivia Chow of his determination implicit the telephone past Wednesday.

“Councillor Thompson is tied up successful ineligible proceedings and a tribunal lawsuit that has nary definitive extremity date. As such, helium felt it champion to region himself from this important committee truthful arsenic to destruct opportunities for media distractions that mightiness hinder the effectiveness of the committee,” said James successful an email.

James was adamant that Chow did not and has not asked Thompson to measurement down from the committee. “She accepted the councillor’s petition with a ‘If that is what you wish,’” wrote James.

Asked to remark astir the circumstances of the departure, Mayor Chow lone provided a little statement. “Michael Thompson notified maine connected November 16 that helium was stepping distant from the FIFA committee,” Chow said.

Chow told reporters earlier this period that she wasn’t reconsidering his assignment to the FIFA committee erstwhile details astir the 2022 allegations emerged astatine the opening of his proceedings 3 weeks ago.

“He has extended acquisition connected the file,” said Chow. “He is simply a councillor, and helium is moving arsenic a councillor, and is paid arsenic a councillor, truthful helium is entitled to service arsenic a councillor.”

The result of his trial, Chow said, was up to the tribunal to decide.

Thompson’s determination to measurement speech came up of his archetypal complainant’s grounds earlier this week. Her individuality is protected by a work ban.

On Monday, she told the Bracebridge Court of Justice however she met Thompson successful the outpouring of 2022 and the brace began a nonrecreational relationship, wherever the metropolis councillor gave her the content they could enactment unneurotic connected metropolis business.

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She told the tribunal that she and her person arrived astatine the Port Carling cottage connected the Sunday of the Canada Day agelong play aft being invited by Thompson. Much similar the archetypal witnesser who testified, she said she was amazed by the deficiency of guests and were greeted by the Scarborough councillor and a young pistillate who appeared to beryllium 21.

“I had thought determination would beryllium a tiny radical of different adults there. I thought it was unusual that determination was lone 1 conveyance successful the driveway and that determination was a 21-year-old unsocial astatine a cottage with a politician,” she told the court.

The witnesser besides told the tribunal that aft drinking intoxicant and smoking marijuana with Thompson, helium asked if helium could use sunscreen to her portion she sunbathed with 2 different women connected the dock.

That’s erstwhile she alleges Thompson applied the sunscreen nether her bikini and continued rubbing her buttocks and thighs.

“He asked maine to crook over, which I did and helium past proceeded to use sunscreen to my breasts arsenic well,” said the witness. “How was helium capable to entree your breasts?” asked Crown Attorney Mareike Newhouse, earlier the witnesser responded, “He reached nether my bathing suit.”

The witnesser recalled feeling numb portion this was occurring, noting she was some intoxicated and high, but that she wanted to debar making the concern awkward having conscionable driven 3 hours to the mediate of cottage country.

While the witnesser said astatine immoderate constituent Thompson asked if it was OK and she indicated it was fine, she told Newhouse successful her caput it was not. “I deliberation I didn’t consciousness similar I had different prime to navigate the situation. So, no,” she said.

A 2nd complainant has yet to testify, but successful laying retired the overview of the case, Newhouse alleged that Thompson forced himself connected her erstwhile she was intoxicated and had told him she didn’t consent.

The proceedings continues Friday successful Bracebridge.