New allegations surface in drug scandal swirling around Toronto’s mayor

TORONTO – A new allegation has surfaced in the ongoing crack cocaine scandal surrounding Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

In a story based on unidentified sources, the Toronto Star alleges Ford told senior aides not to worry about a video appearing to show him smoking crack cocaine because he knew where it was.

Ford has said publicly the video does not exist and said he does not smoke crack cocaine.

But the newspaper said sources told it that after Ford said he knew where the video was, he told the senior aides at the city hall meeting the address of two 17th-floor units at a west-end apartment complex, citing “our contacts” as the source of his information.

The newspaper said the sources told it that staffers were alarmed by the implication of hearing so precise a location.

The Star says its report is based on accounts given by those privy to what was discussed the day after the Star and the U.S. website Gawker published news of the alleged crack-cocaine video shot on a cellphone.

Neither of the original reports about the video has been independently verified and the Star itself has said it could not vouch for its authenticity.

The Star said it sent emails outlining allegations in its latest report, complete with a series of questions, to all people named in its story. It said at its press time, none had responded to requests for interviews.

Ford has called news of the video false and said he does not use crack cocaine and is not an addict of crack cocaine.