Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has finally admitted to smoking crack cocaine, months after rumors that he was caught on video smoking and using racial slurs. Last week, police said that they had obtained a video of Ford caught in the act.

Back in May, Gawker and Toronto Star reporters claimed that they saw a video of the mayor smoking and using derogatory terms. Gawker even posted a screenshot from the video. Then, last week, Toronto police said it acquired a video that matched the description in the reports.

Ford had initially denied the events in the tape, but he finally admitted to smoking crack on Tuesday in a press conference outside Toronto City Hall. “Yes I have smoked crack cocaine,” Ford said, reports CBS News. Ford said that he is not an addict, adding, “Have I tried it? Um, probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago.”

During the conference, Ford told reporters that he didn’t lie about the video, blaming reporters for not asking the “correct questions.”

“No I’m not an addict and no, I do not do drugs. I made mistakes in the past and all I can do is apologize, but it is what it is and I can’t change the past,” he continued. “Yes, I've made mistakes, all I can do now is apologize and move on...I can apologize to my family, my friends, my colleagues and the people of this great city.”

According to ABC News, Ford still has no intention of resigning from office. He was elected in 2010 to a four-year term.

“I feel like I got 1,000 pounds off my back," Ford told the Toronto Sun. "I felt I had to say it. It is what it is. I feel two inches high right now but I needed to deal with it. I am not going to quit or take a leave.”

Ford, who also admitted to a drinking problem on his radio show this week, said that he hasn’t seen the video reported on in May and hasn’t been interviewed by police.

image: Wikimedia Commons