Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is threatening legal action against former chief of staff Mark Towhey and others following the release of court documents quoting individuals alleging he has repeatedly used drugs and been seen with a woman who may have been a prostitute.
"Unfortunately, I have to take legal action," Ford said early Thursday in a brief statement to reporters.
Ford also singled out his former press secretary George Christopolous, former deputy press secretary Issac Ransom and a waiter at Toronto's Bier Markt, the downtown night-spot that was the scene of a much-discussed incident on St. Patrick's Day.
"I have to take legal action against the waiter that said I was doing lines at the Bier Markt, that is outright lies. That is not true," he said. The documents include descriptions by former staff and others of Ford's alleged behaviour.
Ford also denied that the blond woman described in the court documents is a prostitute.
"She's a friend and it makes me sick how people are saying this," he said. "I can't put up with it anymore."
Ford then shocked reporters when he went on to refute the allegation that he had made an inappropriate sexual advance to a woman who was on his staff at the time.
The woman "said I wanted to eat her p—y," Ford said before cameras.
"I've never said that in my life to her. I would never do that. I'm happily married. I've got more than enough to eat at home."
Ford is also alleged to have driven while drunk. He later said the allegations "might" be true.
"I might have had some drinks and driven," Ford said, upon emerging from his office a few minutes later.
He went on to remark he is "not perfect" and disappeared into an elevator.
His remarks appeared to make it clearer still, despite more damning allegations and public embarrassment, that Ford has no intentions of relinquishing his post.
City council must decide how to continue operating after Wednesday's dramatic pleas from councillors for the mayor to seek treatment for alleged substance abuse.
He faces yet another challenging day at City Hall on Thursday following the release of more police documents alleging disturbing details about the mayor's erratic behaviour.
Ford, however, has repeatedly refused to step aside, even after admitting last week that he had smoked crack cocaine about a year ago possibly while drunk..
"I can't change the past," he said in council Wednesday. "All I can do is move on and that's what I'm doing."
But apologies are not enough, according to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, who says Ford has lost the "moral authority" to lead.
"It's not enough because it doesn't address the major issues in his life and the life of this council," Kelly said Thursday morning on CBC's Metro Morning.
"He must take a leave of absence in order to rehabilitate himself."
Ford has also repeatedly denied having a drug or alcohol problem.
The latest allegations contained in the new parts of the police report released Wednesday have not been proven in court. They come from police interviews with Ford staffers that were blacked out when the Alexander Lisi search warrant information was first made public on Oct. 30.
Lisi, also known as Sandro and Alessandro, is known as Ford's friend and occasional driver. He's now facing drug charges and an extortion charge.
According to portions of the police report released Wednesday, the mayor was allegedly involved with a suspected prostitute and allegedly tussled physically with his staff.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is threatening legal action against his former chief of staff and others following the release of court documents quoting individuals alleging he has repeatedly used drugs and been seen with a woman who may have been a prostitute. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)
Ford still chairs the powerful executive committee, but a special meeting is set for Friday, in which his council colleagues will decide whether to strip Ford of his power to appoint and fire committee chairs.
Coun. John Filion will also move to strip Ford of his emergency powers and pass them to the deputy mayor, Norm Kelly.
"The mayor does not appear to be in a state to be able to deal with an emergency right now," Filion said.
Even so, Ford will not be silenced nor will he be sidelined, pointed out Coun. Anthony Perruzza.
"He continues to be the chief magistrate of the city; he continues to have signing powers," he said.
Meanwhile, Ford is mostly isolated at city hall, as calls for his resignation continue to grow.
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