Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has dug himself further into scandal by using crude, graphic language to deny claims he asked to perform oral sex on an aide.
Ford, under fire for admitting using crack and allegedly abusing a prescription drug and other misconduct, drew gasps, giggles and at least one exclamation of "oh, my God" from reporters with his remarks on Thursday outside his office.
He later apologised, but it did not seem to do any good.
At a city council meeting, many councillors turned their backs on Ford when he stood to speak. One chided him for his "disgraceful language".
While speaking to reporters, Ford threatened to sue former staffers and others for telling police they witnessed him allegedly snorting cocaine, and partying with a possible prostitute.
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Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne hinted for the first time she was weighing solutions to the crisis gripping her province's capital, including legislation to possibly oust the mayor.
Ford - who has admitted smoking crack cocaine - angrily doubled down amid the latest allegations, which also suggest he abused the painkiller Oxycontin, drove while drunk and sent staffers to buy alcohol.
Ford named his former chief of staff and two subordinates as targets of his lawsuit, presumably for libel and defamation, for their vivid depictions of erratic behaviour on St Patrick's Day in 2012.
The three staffers were among revellers who joined Ford as he started the evening partying at City Hall.
One of them said he saw a petite, blonde, blue-eyed woman named Alana he believed was a sex worker.
The staffer told police that there had been rumours that Ford "had used escorts or prostitutes" and that Alana had previously been seen with Ford "at a stag party".
"It hurts my wife when they are calling a friend of mine a prostitute. Alana is not a prostitute. She's a friend and it makes me sick how people are saying this," said Ford.
"I'm very happily married at home," he said.
According to police documents, the party moved to a private room at a local bar, where a waiter claimed he saw the mayor and a woman bent over a table and "heard two sniffs from both of them".
Ford rejected this account and allegations that, over the course of the night, he made lewd suggestions to a female policy adviser and a female City Hall security guard.
In his denial, the mayor insisted his marriage is stable. But in doing so he again used graphic language about oral sex and this earned him further rebukes.
AFP/km
