The embattled Toronto mayor who denied reporters’ claims that he was caught on tape smoking crack came out Tuesday in total turnaround fashion and admitted using the drug — but said he may have been in a drunken stupor.
“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” Mayor Rob Ford told reporters Tuesday outside his office, as captured on videotape posted on The Star’s website. “There have been times when I’ve been in a drunken stupor. That’s why I want to see the tape. I want everyone in the city to see this tape. I don’t even recall there being a tape or video. I want to see the state that I was in.”
He also said he’s made mistakes and is sorry for them all, Fox News reported.
Mr. Ford has faced a wild couple of weeks in Canadian and international press. A couple of journalists from a Canada newspaper said they saw a video of Mr. Ford smoking crack cocaine. Mr. Ford denied the drug use, and denied the existence of the video. Within the past few weeks, however, Toronto police said they were able to extract images from the video — which they confirmed existed — that included pictures of the mayor. They also said the images of the mayor weren’t inconsistent with what the press was reporting.
The mayor hasn’t been charged with drug use, but one of his friends was recently arrested on marijuana charges.
But on Tuesday, in an explosive press account reported on Fox News, he finally admitted he smoked crack cocaine. At the same time, it may be difficult to charge him with a crime, given he wasn’t caught in the act and there isn’t any substance to drug test.
Mr. Ford is also still planning on seeking re-election. The next mayoral race is October 2014.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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