TORONTO, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who has admitted to smoking crack and binge drinking, denied during a Thursday radio interview he tried to buy an incriminating video.
Ford became testy with the hosts of the Sports Junkies talk radio show in Washington when asked about the tape, telling them they could contact his lawyers if they wanted ask him questions about the controversy, CNN reported.
"I'm here to talk about football," he said.
He called allegations that he tried to buy the incriminating video from criminal suspects "an outright lie"
Ford also said he is focused on serving his constituents and "all the other stuff is nonsense."
The hosts asked Ford about his future.
The "future is I'm getting re-elected," Ford responded, adding "there's a ton of names out there" as potential opponents in the Oct. 27 election.
"The more the merrier," Ford said. "Let my record speak for itself."
On Wednesday, documents released indicated Ford tried to buy a damaging tape from criminal suspects months before a tape showing him smoking crack was made public.
CNN said its efforts to get a comment from the mayor's camp were unsuccessful.
Reputed gang members discussed Ford's drug use and suggested he could be blackmailed, police wiretap evidence released by a court indicates.
In one instance detailed in previously redacted portions of a 474-page police affidavit, an alleged Bloods gang member says in a phone conversation Ford offered to buy an embarrassing video of him for $5,000 and a car, an offer the gang member rejected, the affidavit states.
The video, which police allege was filmed in February, has not surfaced publicly. But it has been reported by the Toronto Star and U.S. website Gawker to show Ford appearing to smoke crack cocaine and making homophobic and racially charged remarks.
The same gang member said in the phone call he planned to ask Ford for $150,000 in return for the video, the affidavit says.
Gang members "love" Ford, one man said on a wiretap, but the gang members also made clear they knew photos and videos of the mayor were valuable and could be insurance against him calling in police to expose their violent drugs and guns activities, the Star said.
The wiretaps and interviews suggest Ford regularly used drugs, possibly including heroin, the Toronto police affidavit says.
"Rob Ford wants some drugs," one man said to another in a recorded conversation.
Another man said he had photos of Ford "on the pipe."
"The mayor of the city, Rob Ford, was smoking his rocks today," another said, apparently referring to crack cocaine.
Another gang member said on a wiretap he had "so much pictures of Rob Ford doing the hezza," a slang term for heroin.
The allegations in the police affidavit have not been tested in court, and Ford does not face criminal charges.
The Toronto City Council stripped Ford of most of his power, budget and staff.
