T.O. mayor denies latest allegations

Updated The mayor of Toronto is back in the headlines tonight, defending himself for alleged actions away from his duties as mayor.

Rob Ford is accused of showing up drunk at a charity function last month, and that he was asked to leave. And it’s not the only incident.

The mayor calls the accusations flat-out lies, and is vehemently denying any of it happened. Ford says the Toronto Star is out to get him. But the paper stands by its report, saying anonymous guests and organizers say it’s all true.

Rob Ford attended the annual Garrison Ball, a military function in Toronto on February 23rd. The Star reports organizers noticed Ford speaking incoherently and rambling and were concerned he was drunk. But defence minister Peter MacKay was there too and says Ford seemed fine.

One anonymous event organizer quoted in the Star says Ford seemed either drunk, high, or suffering from a medical condition. Toronto councillor Paul Ainslie confirms Ford was asked to leave but didn’t say why. Ford says it’s all an attack and not true.

“If you want me to address this, number one it’s an outright lie. It’s the Toronto Star going after me again and again and again. They’re relentless, that’s fine. I’ll go head to head with the Toronto Star anytime.”

“Let’s just wait until when the election is and then see what happens. I’m, just sick. It’s just lies after lies after lies and I’ve called you pathological liars and you are so why don’t you take me to court, let the courts decide.”

Fellow tory Tim Hudak defended Ford “I can simply judge the mayor by the results he’s achieved. He’s actually reduced spending at city hall, that’s an accomplishment I’d like to see here in the province of Ontario to get spending under control.”

“He’s gotten affordable deals with the unions and actually has helped to reduce all the runaway spending we saw at city hall under the previous government. I’ll judge him by his results.”

This recent allegation comes just after formal mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson accused Ford of grabbing her behind at a function earlier this month. But political public relations experts say this latest controversy won’t cause Ford supporters to shy away from him.