As of Thursday afternoon, at least eight women have accused former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi of violent acts, ranging from choking to 'closed fist' punching.
In CBC's Toronto office in 2012, the story goes, three people sat down for an interview. At least two of them knew that not long before, the interviewee allegedly has been thrown against a hotel room wall and fondled forcefully against her will. According to her statement to the Toronto Star, she performed fellatio 'just to get out of there' and ended up leaving the hotel room crying. Then, sometime later - perhaps days, or a couple weeks - she sat across from the man she now accuses, along with his executive producer and interviewed for what was, or had been, her dream job.
At least two of them in the interview knew, but somewhere else in the building, there had to be more who, at one time or another, suspected something was amiss.
The allegations go back as far as 2002. Of the eight women who have come forward with the stunning allegations to the media, only Trailer Park Boys actress Lucy DeCoutere has been named.
Two journalists working on the story for the Toronto Star, investigative reporter Kevin Donovan and freelance writer Jesse Brown, have said more allegations are on their way.
In a statement on Facebook Thursday, Ghomeshi said that he will 'directly' respond to the allegations but would not be making any comments to the media. He declined to say how he would be responding to the allegations. A timeline of events:
Friday, Oct. 24: It learned that Ghomeshi would be taking an 'undetermined leave' from his role as host of CBC Radio's flagship show Q. Ghomeshi tweets that he 'some much needed personal time.' It is speculated to be relation to the recent death of his father, but Canadaland's Jesse Brown said there is 'much more' to the story and it was unrelated to his father's death.
Sunday, Oct. 26: The CBC announces it is parting way with Ghomeshi after it received 'information' on radio host. The public broadcaster does not say what the information was.
'This decision was not made without serious deliberation and careful consideration. Jian has made an immense contribution to the CBC and we wish him well,' the CBC said in a statement.
Hours later, lawyers for Ghomeshi say they plan to sue CBC for $55-million. It is learned Ghomeshi has hired Navigator, a 'high-stakes public strategy and communications firm' best known for its work for former Ontario attorney-general Michael Bryant.
Ghomeshi then releases a 1500-word statement on his Facebook account, saying the CBC fired him for his 'private life.'
He compared his private sex life to a 'a mild form of Fifty Shades of Grey,' a 2011 bestseller that depicted bondage, discipline and the infliction of pain, and dismissed the accusations as a 'campaign of false allegations pursued by a jilted ex girlfriend.' Sunday, Oct. 26:
The Star publishes a story, written by investigative reporter Kevin Donovan and Jesse Brown of Canadaland, that features three unnamed women who say that Ghomeshi was 'physically violent to them without their consent during sexual encounters or in the lead-up to sexual encounters.'
Monday, Oct. 27 Ghomeshi's lawyers file a $55-million lawsuit against the CBC. Many legal experts dismiss it as an impossible case to win and say it is a PR-exercise. Wednesday, Oct. 29
A woman appears on CBC's As it Happens, saying she was on a second date with Ghomeshi 10 years ago when he 'threw me in front of him on the ground and started closed-fist pounding me on the head repeatedly until my ears were ringing.'
'And I'm on the floor and then I'm in tears. And then he said 'you need to go,'' said the woman, who appeared without having her voice disguised.
Later Wednesday, the Star publishes a second bombshell as more women come forward, including Trailer Park Boys actress Lucy DeCoutere, with allegations of sexual violence against Ghomeshi.
Thursday, Oct. 30 Ghomeshi writes a short Facebook post saying: 'I want to thank you for your support and assure you that I intend to meet these allegations directly. I don't intend to discuss this matter any further with the media.'
Meanwhile, his Facebook page has lost thousands of followers since the Wednesday night revelations.
Thursday, Oct. 30 Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says there has not been any criminal complaints involving Ghomeshi in relation to the latest media reports. Blair encouraged any victims of sexual assault to come forward to police.
'We are quite prepared to conduct a criminal investigation should they come forward with complaints,' he said.
'One of the things we will not do is force them to do something they do not want to do,' he added when asked why they would not track down the women in the Star article.
Post By http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/10/30/jian-ghomeshi-a-timeline-for-the-scandal-involving-the-former-cbc-radio-host/
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