TORONTO – Despite a bombshell revelation by Toronto police that investigators have recovered a video file that depicts allegations reported in the media, Mayor Rob Ford says he has “no reason to resign.”
“I wish I could come out and defend myself. Unfortunately I can’t; it’s before courts,” Ford added. He held a quick scrum outside his mayor’s office Thursday afternoon.
Some councillors said he needs to say a lot more and step aside.
Coun. Gloria Lindsay Luby, who represents Etobicoke Centre (Ward 4) — where Ford lives — said the mayor has lost the moral authority to lead.
“Many of us, including many of his great supporters, have lost our trust, our belief in him,” she said.
“I am terribly disappointed and hurt — that’s my dominant emotion,” Coun. Joe Mihevc said.
Police recover video file
Earlier Thursday, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said the video was recovered from a hard drive seized during a drugs and weapons investigation dubbed “Project Traveller” in June.
“The digital video file what we have recovered depicts images which are consistent with those that have previously been reported in the press,” Blair said.
Blair confirms Ford is in the video they retrieved, but did not confirm its contents.
“I think it’s fair to say that the mayor does appear in that video, but I am not going to get into the details of what activities are depicted on that video.”
Blair also said he is “disappointed” by what he has seen in the video.
“I know this is a traumatic issue for the citizens of this city and for the reputation of the city, and that concerns me.”
Police are reviewing their evidence, Blair said.
As a result of discovering the video, Alessandro (Sandro) Lisi’s — Ford’s friend and occasional driver — is now charged with extortion, police said.
The chief also said police have other videos in their possession, but didn’t provide specifics.
More
- Video: Police retrieve copy of video file depicting Mayor Ford
- Ford’s alleged crack video focus of police probe: document
- LIVE BLOG: Lisi search documents released
Blair made the comments after the release of a police document that showed the alleged video was the focus of a police investigation that led to Lisi’s arrest.
Ford has been under intense scrutiny since May after Gawker.com and the Toronto Star reported seeing the video that showed the mayor allegedly smoking crack cocaine.
680News hasn’t seen the video and cannot verify its authenticity.
On May 24, Mayor Ford called the drug use allegations “ridiculous” and said, “I do not use crack cocaine nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.”
“As for a video, I cannot comment on a video that I’ve never seen or does not exist,” he had previously stated.
–With files from Kevin Misener and Irene Preklet
Your reaction
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