Toronto mayor admits he has bought illegal drugs

Toronto mayor admits he has bought illegal drugs

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admitted during a heated City Council debate today that he had bought illegal drugs in the past two years, but he firmly refused to step down even after nearly every councilor stood up to ask him to take a leave of absence.

The mayor made the confession under direct questioning by a former ally, Councilor Denzil Minnan-Wong. Ford publicly admitted last week that he smoked crack cocaine last year in a “drunken stupor,” but his comments today marked the first time he acknowledged having bought illegal drugs.

Ford paused for a long time after Minnan-Wong asked him if he had bought illicit narcotics in the past two years.

Then Ford replied, “Yes I have.”

“I understand the embarrassment that I have caused. I am humiliated by it,” Ford said.

But he then turned defiant, saying he was not an addict of any sort and rebuffing suggestions from council members that he should seek help. He insisted he is a “positive role model for kids who are down and out.”

“I’m most definitely keeping this job,” he said.