Alleged Rob Ford drug video ‘gone,’ source tells Gawker

TORONTO – The U.S. website that raised $200,000 in a bid to buy an alleged video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford appearing to smoke crack cocaine now says its source has been told the video is “gone.”

In a post on the Gawker website today, editor John Cook says he doesn’t really know what that message means.

Ford has said the alleged video does not exist and that he does not use crack cocaine, but the scandal nevertheless has plunged city hall into chaos.

Cook and two Toronto Star reporters have said they viewed the alleged video, which they said was being shopped around by drug dealers with the help of an intermediary. The Star has said it can’t vouch for its authenticity.

Both outlets went public with the allegations last month, but the alleged video has not surfaced.

Gawker now says it has heard from the intermediary in the matter, who delivered a terse message from the owner of the alleged video: “It’s gone. Leave me alone.”