New profanity- laced video adds to woes for embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
TORONTO ( CP) — A video has emerged of the mayor of Canada’s largest city in a profanity- laced rambling, enraged tirade in which he threatens to kill someone — the latest episode in a stunning saga that has captured international headlines.
As is now becoming a familiar refrain, Ford told a crush of reporters outside his office he was drunk at the time, and called the outburst a mistake.
“Obviously, I was extremely, extremely inebriated,” Ford said within minutes of the video being made public.
“I’ve made mistakes. I don’t know what to say.”
The context of the video is unknown and it’s unclear who the target of Ford’s wrath is.
The mayor called the video “extremely embarrassing” without explaining exactly why he was so enraged, although he said he didn’t wish anyone to be in a similar state of intoxication.
“That’s all I have to say for now,” he said, before leaving.
The video, which lasts little longer than one minute, shows Ford pacing around angrily in what appears to be a living room.
“I’m going to kill that fing guy. I’m telling you, it’s first- degree murder,” Ford rants.
“I’ll fight him. No holds barred, brother. He dies or I die, brother.”
The mayor goes on to warn that he will rip out the person’s throat and poke his eyes out.
“I need fing 10 minutes to make sure he’s dead. It’ll be over in five minutes.” “I am a sick motherfr, dude.” The video — which appears to have been shot by cellphone — was posted by the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun on their websites.
Ford’s lawyer Dennis Morris called the context of the video “skeletal.”
“Was it taken eight, 10 months ago or a short time ago?” Morris told the Associated Press. “I’m going to try to find that out too.”
Ford admitted on Tuesday he has smoked crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor,” but said he’s not stepping down.
The admission came days after police Chief Bill Blair said investigators had recovered another video — first reported in May — showing Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine.
Police have refused to release the video.
They have also refused to discuss a second video they seized, but said it is not the one showing Ford in the rant.
Coun. Denzil Minnan- Wong, a member of Ford’s executive committee, said he planned to ask council next week to petition the province to oust the mayor if he doesn’t take a leave of absence.