Rob Ford '100% in rehab' after turning back at U.S. border
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford flew to Chicago last week, but subsequently "withdrew" his request to enter the United States and ended up leaving the country, according to the consul general of Canada in Chicago.
Roy Norton told CBC News in an email that officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection had confirmed that Ford arrived in Illinois last Thursday.
But Norton said that "after discussion" with those officials, Ford "withdrew his request to enter the USA and departed."
The mayor’s trip came hours after Ford announced he was taking a leave of absence to seek help for substance abuse.
CBC News contacted Ford's lawyer Dennis Morris on Tuesday, and he confirmed the mayor is in treatment for addiction issues.
"The mayor is 100 per cent in rehab. I can assure you of that," Morris told the CBC's Dave Seglins.
Morris refused to divulge where his client is, or confirm whether Ford is in Canada or the United States.
Asked whether the public should believe Ford is actually in rehab, Morris told CBC that Ford's previous denials and lies about drug use and a video of him smoking crack are "hallmarks of someone with troubles."
The ongoing Ford saga became front-page news again last week, when the mayor took a leave of absence after two recordings surfaced in newspaper reports.
One audio recording captured the mayor ranting and making lewd comments about Coun. Karen Stintz. A video viewed by Globe and Mail reporters showed the mayor smoking a substance that a source told the newspaper was crack cocaine.
The new revelations prompted Ford — who is running for re-election in the Oct. 27 municipal election — to take a leave of absence from both the campaign and his duties as mayor.
A statement from Ford issued on Thursday said he was taking the leave to deal with his "problem with alcohol," which Ford said he has struggled with "for some time."
Last week, CBC confirmed Ford flew to Chicago from Ontario's Buttonville airport, but his next stop was never revealed.
His family has said Ford is in rehab at an undisclosed location.
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly will serve as mayor while Ford is away.
Toronto city council will on Tuesday hold its first full meeting since Ford's departure.
The story of Ford's alleged drug use has enveloped the mayor's office for nearly a year, after reports emerged last year that someone had been shopping a tape showing him smoking crack cocaine.
For months, Ford denied both using crack cocaine and the tape's existence.
Last October, Toronto police said they had obtained a copy of a video file that was consistent with what the media had reported. Within days, Ford admitted that he had had smoked crack cocaine.
