Watch above: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s Nov. 14 apology for his graphic remarks
TORONTO – It’s been 13 days since Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine, said he plans to remain as mayor, and has “nothing left to hide.”
Eleven days ago he addressed a new video showing him swearing in an apparent rage, and shouting that he wants “10 minutes to make sure he’s dead.”
Last Wednesday he apologized again admitting he’s bought drugs since becoming mayor.
Thursday, another apology – this time for sexually explicit remarks he made while denying that morning that he’d made lewd comments to a former female staffer last year.
And tonight, he’ll appear on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, accusing the media of “spinning” the story and repeating that he’s human and made a mistake.
For our ongoing coverage, click here
Confused about Ford’s interpretation of “nothing left to hide”? So are we. But here’s a closer look at what he’s said before:
“I have nothing left to hide.”-Nov. 5
May 13: “I certainly know that Rob Ford has nothing to hide and he’ll ultimately co-operate, and has been cooperating, with whatever process is appropriate under the Municipal Elections Act.” – Lawyer Tom Barlow following a February audit into Ford’s 2010 campaign financing that found he spent more than the allowable limit and accepted 11 cheques from corporations (prohibited by the Municipal Elections Act).
June 13: “You want to follow me around and take pictures, I don’t care — I have nothing to hide.” – When asked by reporters about any connection to the Project Traveller raids
Oct. 17: “I have nothing to hide. Business between me and a person that calls me, it is privacy issues. I don’t think they’d want to know or want to put their name or their issues out for the public to see. If you don’t believe that I was out there, I don’t care what you guys believe or not … I was busy.” – When asked why he wouldn’t make his daily schedule public
Nov. 13: “There’s nothing else to say, guys. I really eff-ed up and that’s it. … I’m moving on. You guys can do what you want.” – In a city council debate during which Ford admitted to buying drugs since becoming mayor and councillors voted for him to take a leave of absence
“I wasn’t lying. You didn’t ask the correct questions.”- Nov. 5
May 30: Reporter: “Have you done any illegal drugs since you’ve been mayor?”
Ford: “Anything else?”
Watch the video of the May 30 remarks below, with the above question at 1:19:
Ford: [laughs] “No, I’m not an alcoholic. I’m not a drug addict.”
Oakley: “Have you used crack?”
Ford: “I’m not a drug – Johnny, listen…”
Oakley: “Have you used crack?”
Ford: “Johnny. Johnny, listen…”
Oakley: “Have you used crack? Addiction’s one thing…”
Ford: “I’m not a drug addict. I’m not an alcoholic. You know, if I have a problem, I’ll be more than happy, I’ll be the first one to say I’m not fit to run this city.”
Oakley: “Would you…”
Ford: “I can assure you, I can assure you, Johnny, that I do not use drugs. I drink, don’t get me wrong. I’m the first one to enjoy a few cocktails. Some of the parties I’ve had, you know, I shouldn’t have went to the Danforth, you know, inebriated. I shouldn’t have had a pretty, I would say, a wild St. Patrick’s Day party in my office. I shouldn’t have done that. That’s the past. The past is the past.”
Nov. 13: Denzil Minnan-Wong: “Have you purchased drugs in the last two years?”
Ford: “Yes, I have.”
Ford: “I’m not going to run around and be phony and lie.”
Weir: “You said you didn’t do it in the first place.”
Ford: “No I didn’t say that. You’re wrong. You’re absolutely wrong what [the media] said. They said, ‘Do you smoke crack and are you a crack addict?’ No, I don’t smoke crack and I’m not a crack addict. Have I? Yes I have. So I didn’t lie – I don’t smoke crack. I haven’t smoked crack in over a year.” – In a CNN interview
March 26: “It’s the Toronto Star going after me again and again and again. They’re relentless. That’s fine. I’ll go head to head with them any time. … It’s just lies after lies after lies. And I’ve called you pathological liars so why don’t you take me to court?”
May 26: “Bunch of maggots…No matter what you say to the media, they’ll never be happy.” –Ford on his radio show a week after crack video allegations surfaced
Doug Ford: “The point is, they’re coming after us.”
Nov. 18: “There’s no one else to blame but myself. I’ve said that over and over again. But you guys just won’t give up. That’s fine. That’s fine.” – As council prepared to vote on whether to cut his office budget
Nov. 3: “I can assure people—hopefully, it doesn’t happen again.” – Ford’s initial apology on his radio show
Nov. 7: “All I can say is, again, again, I’ve made mistakes. All I can do is reassure the people that… I don’t know what to say…Obviously I was extremely, extremely inebriated.”
Watch the video of his Nov. 7 apology below:
Nov. 14: “I want to apologize for my graphic remarks this morning. Today, I acted on complete impulses.” – On his choice of words while being questioned about allegations from police documents that the mayor told former staffer Olivia Gondek he would “eat out her box”
Video below: Rob Ford makes sexually explicit comments while denying latest allegations. Discretion is advised.
Nov 4: “I know what I’ve done. I’ve made mistakes in the past.” –During radio interview with Oakley
Nov 4: “If I have a problem, I’ll be more than happy, I’ll be the first one to say I’m not fit to run this city.” – During same radio interview with Oakley
Nov. 5, 12:30 p.m.: “I don’t even remember after some of the stuff that… You guys have seen me—the state I’ve been in. It’s a problem.”
Nov. 5, 5 p.m.: “I kept this from my family, especially my brother Doug, my staff, my council colleagues, because I was embarrassed and ashamed.”
Nov. 7: “Obviously I was extremely, extremely inebriated. … I hope none of you will ever be in that state.” -Responding to publication of a 77-second video depicting the mayor in an apparent rage
Nov. 14: “I am receiving professional support and seeking advice from people with expertise. … I do not want to comment on the particulars of this support.” – Hours after Ford threatened to sue former staffers and a bar employee after new allegations were released regarding Ford’s use of illicit drugs
Nov. 17: “I am training every day. I’m in a gym for two hours every day. I’m seeking professional help… I’ve made mistakes. I’ve apologized. That’s all I can do.” – Ford in a Fox News interview, though reporter John Roberts said Ford refused to go into detail when asked if the professional help included substance abuse treatment
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