Witness compares Toronto councillor's friend to Ghislaine Maxwell in sex assault case

The sexual assault trial of a Toronto councillor continued Thursday in a Bracebridge courtroom, with the witness comparing the accused's friend to a convicted human trafficker.

Michael Thompson, 64, is accused of assault by young women who the court heard were promised networking opportunities during a Canada Day weekend getaway two years ago in Port Carling.

A young woman invited to a Port Carling cottage by the Toronto councillor took the stand again, telling the court she was given tequila, drank wine and smoked marijuana.

It was at the cottage where Thompson is alleged to have sexually assaulted two young women during the Canada Day weekend in 2022.

The witness, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, said Thompson's female friend Tracy, who provided marijuana and alcohol to the younger women, made her feel uncomfortable.

"There were these weird mind games being played," she testified.

The witness said she felt she may have been groomed for a sexual predator, likening Thompson's friend Tracy to Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend, convicted human trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The witness said she felt a strange energy at the cottage.

"This is weird, and this is a grooming process going on," said the witness, who believed she may have been lured to the cottage with other young women by Thompson.

The witness described seeing Thompson massaging or rubbing another young woman on the dock. She said she heard the woman may have been digitally penetrated.

A publication ban protects the identities of the witness and the two complainants.

The defence suggested to the witness Thompson rubbed sunscreen on the woman.

The court then heard testimony from the witness about allegations from another woman who said she performed fellatio on Thompson in his bedroom when she may not have wanted to.

The trial continues Friday and is scheduled to resume with at least two more dates later this month.

Thompson has pleaded not guilty to the two charges.