Mayor Rob For of Toronto will take leave from the campaign trail for reelection and enter into a rehabilitation program to recover from alcohol abuse.
The move comes hours after the release of a second video of him using "crack-cocaine" as described by a self professed drug dealer. He had been secretly filmed in the basement of his sisters house.
"It's not easy to be vulnerable and this is one of the most difficult times in my life," Ford said in a statement Wednesday. "I have a problem with alcohol, and the choices I have made while under the influence. I have struggled with this for some time."
The statement was provided to CNN by Canada's CTV News.
When confronted about the Video the mayor responded
"Today, after taking some time to think about my own well-being, how to best serve the people of Toronto and what is in the best interests of my family, I have decided to take a leave from campaigning and from my duties as mayor to seek immediate help," he said.
Dennis Morris, the mayors lawyer, advised to CTV that his leave is effective immediately:
"He has to take a break to re-energize, because he realizes he has flaws that have to be addressed."
Morris also shares that the video's authenticity is questionable adding it is hard to prove what the Mayor is smoking.
"If these guys are drug dealers and there's money involved, they can say whatever they want to get more money, to extract more money from the people who are paying," he explains.
The Globe confirmed that the film was not purchased, but three of the screen grabs were bought from three clips.
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