Image Source: City of Toronto/MTLskyline via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
What was the Accusation?
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford faced an escalating political scandal in 2013 over allegations that he had been recorded smoking crack cocaine. In May 2013, journalists reported having viewed a cellphone video that appeared to show Ford smoking from a pipe. Ford responded publicly on May 24 by denying that he used crack cocaine or was addicted to it. He also said that he could not comment on a video that he had not seen or that did not exist. The controversy persisted for months as questions about the recording, Ford’s conduct, and his credibility became an international news story.
The controversy changed substantially on October 31, when Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair announced that investigators had recovered a digital video file consistent with the recording previously described by journalists. On November 5, Ford acknowledged for the first time that he had smoked crack cocaine. He told reporters that it had probably happened approximately a year earlier during what he called one of his “drunken stupors.” Ford nevertheless denied being a crack addict and argued that his earlier statements had not constituted a lie because reporters had not asked him the correct question.
Later that day, Ford delivered a formal statement at Toronto City Hall. He accepted personal responsibility for embarrassing Toronto, acknowledged that what he had done was wrong, apologized to residents for letting them down, and promised that the mistakes would not happen again. Ford also emphasized his affection for Toronto, his record of saving taxpayers money, and his desire to continue serving as mayor. Despite calls for him to take a leave of absence or resign, Ford refused to step down. He said that Toronto voters should determine his political future in the October 2014 municipal election. His response therefore combined an explicit admission and apology with an effort to preserve his political legitimacy and remain in office.
Rob Ford’s Admission and Apology — November 5, 2013
“With today’s announcement, I know I embarrassed everyone in this city and I will forever be sorry. There’s only one person to blame for this and that is myself. I know that admitting my mistake was the right thing to do. And I feel like a thousand pounds have been lifted off my shoulders.
I can’t explain how difficult this was to do. I hope, I hope that nobody but nobody has to go through what I have gone through.
I know what I did was wrong. And admitting it was the most difficult and embarrassing thing I have ever had to do.
Folks I have nothing left to hide.
I would do anything, absolutely anything to change the past. But the past is the past and we must move forward.
I want to be clear I want to be crystal clear to every single person. These mistakes will never, ever, ever happen again.
I kept this from my family, especially my brother Doug, my staff, my council colleagues because I was embarrassed and ashamed.
To the residents of Toronto, I know I have let you down and I can’t do anything else but apologize. I apologize and I’m so sorry.
I know. I know I have to regain your trust and your confidence. I love my job. I love my job. I love this city, love saving taxpayers money and I love being your mayor.
There’s important work that we must advance and important decisions that must be made. For the sake of the taxpayers of this great city, for the sake of the taxpayers, we must get back to work immediately. We must keep Toronto moving forward.
I was elected to do a job and that’s exactly what I’m going to continue to do.
In 2010, I made a commitment to Toronto voters. I have delivered on that commitment and I will continue to deliver on that commitment of saving taxpayers money. But they have a choice.
We live in a democracy and on October 27 of 2014 I want the people of this great city to decide whether to they want Rob Ford to remain their mayor.
Again, I sincerely, sincerely, sincerely apologize.
God bless the people of Toronto. Thank you very much.”
[Statement to Reporters Earlier that Same Day]
“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. But no — do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago. I answered your question, you ask a question properly, I’ll answer it. Yes, I’ve made mistakes, all I can do now is apologize and move on.
“All I can say is I’ve made mistakes and you guys kept referring to alcohol, it was a couple (of) isolated incidents. There’s been times when I’ve been in a drunken stupor, that’s why I want to see the tape. I want everyone in the city to see this tape. I’d like to see this tape — I don’t even recall there being a tape and a video and I know that and I want to see the state that I was in but that’s exactly it. I don’t know what else I can say.
“So I wasn’t lying, you didn’t ask the correct questions. No, I’m not an addict, and no, I do not do drugs. I’ve made mistakes in the past and all I can do is apologize, but it is what it is and I can’t change the past. And I can apologize to my family, my friends, my colleagues and the people of this great city. I can’t change it.
“I told you, probably approximately, probably saying around about a year ago but I don’t know exactly, that’s why I want to see… I don’t even remember, after some of the stuff that you guys have seen, the state I’ve been in — it’s a problem.”
