In a U.S. television network appearance, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said he doesn鈥檛 use illegal drugs, but has consumed alcohol since announcing that he had quit drinking.
Speaking to Today Show鈥檚 Matt Lauer from his Etobicoke home Tuesday morning, Ford said he 鈥渆xperimented鈥� with drugs about a year ago, but does not use illegal drugs. Asked whether he still drinks, Ford replied: 鈥淣o, not at all,鈥� before admitting that he has had a drink since publicly announcing that he has quit.
In November, Ford admitted to using crack cocaine, probably during a 鈥渄runken stupor.鈥� The admission came after reports of a video that allegedly shows the mayor smoking from what appears to be a crack pipe. In the weeks after his admission, Ford said he was hitting the gym, and had quit drinking alcohol.
But in January, a video of Ford at a fast food restaurant rambling in Jamaican patois surfaced online, prompting the mayor to admit to drinking 鈥渁 little bit鈥� that night. At the time, he called it a 鈥渕inor setback.鈥�
Ford told Lauer Tuesday that he had gone out with friends that night.
鈥淚 drank and enjoyed myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe you鈥檙e perfect, but I鈥檓 not and we鈥檙e moving on in a positive direction."
Later on Tuesday morning, Ford walked away from a news conference at Toronto city hall after reporters asked him whether he has used drugs since November.
Ford told Lauer that he is still effective as mayor despite the controversies surrounding him and the fact that council has stripped him of most of his powers. He touted his accomplishments and said he鈥檚 looking forward to the October election.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to win. So I just can鈥檛 wait,鈥� he said.
Ford is heading to the Big City Mayors meeting in Ottawa this week, where he said he will discuss Toronto鈥檚 infrastructure and funding needs.
