IN THE STREETS & ON THE WEB

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Admits He Did Smoke Crack Cocaine

Embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford has admitted he did indeed smoke crack cocaine, telling reporters Tuesday he smoked the substance "probably a year ago” during a “drunken stupor.”

"Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” Ford told reporters Tuesday outside his office in Toronto.

“There have 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 don’t even recall there being a tape or video. I want to see the state that I was in.”

"I've made mistakes; all I can do now is apologize and move on...It is what it is, I can’t change the past," he added, insisiting that he isn't an addict.

Ford denied that he had lied to the public, saying that he didn't know the video existed.

"I wasn’t lying – you didn’t ask me the correct question," he told reporters after his shocking revelation Tuesday.

The politician has staved off repeated calls for his resignation, in the months since footage reportedly emerged of him smoking the drug in May.

The video was originally reported by the Toronto Star and gossip website, Gawker, but Ford denied the tape existed or that he engaged in drug use, calling the claims "absolutely not true."

Though the scandal seemed to have died down, a copy of the video was obtained by Toronto Police last week.

Police chief Bill Blair announced that he watched the footage and affirmed that it "depicts images that are consistent with those previously reported in the press."

"It’s safe to say the mayor does appear in the video," Blair said.

Earlier Tuesday, Ford’s brother, Doug, criticized Police Chief Bill Blair for saying he was “disappointed” in the mayor. Doug Ford called the chief’s comments “inappropriate” and “biased” and said Blair should step aside.

“We have the most political police chief we have ever seen,” said Doug Ford, a Toronto City Councillor. “The police chief believes he’s the judge, the jury and the executioner.” Blair says he responded honestly when asked about his feelings after watching the video.