- The Toronto mayor says he is taking legal action against former staffers
- Their allegations are "outright lies" and "not true," he says
- A woman he brought to his office wasn't a prostitute but a family friend, he says
- But he says, "I'm sure none of you have never gotten behind the wheel after taking a drink"
(CNN) -- [Breaking news update, 12:30 p.m.]
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologized Thursday for graphic remarks he made earlier in the day, saying he had been under "tremendous, tremendous stress."
[Breaking news update, 12:30 p.m.]
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford acknowledged Thursday that he had drunk alcohol in excess, but said he was receiving support from a team of health care professionals."I am taking accountability and receiving advice from people with expertise," he said. "I do not want to comment on the particulars of this support."
[Earlier story, 12:22 p.m.]
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denies salacious allegations by former staffers
Responding to the latest round of salacious allegations, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Thursday he is taking legal action against former staffers who alleged the embattled mayor brought a woman appearing to be an escort to his office and drank alcohol while driving.
Ford also denied making a reference to oral sex to a female staffer who accused the mayor of making inappropriate comments.
The new allegations by former staffers surfaced Wednesday in more than 500 pages of court documents that were used by Canadian police to get a search warrant for Alexander Lisi, Ford's friend and occasional driver, whom police accuse of marijuana possession and trafficking.
While outside his office Thursday, Ford responded to accusations of drinking and driving by telling reporters, "I'm sure none of you have never gotten behind the wheel after taking a drink."
He said the allegations in the documents are "outright lies" and "not true."
Ford also said the so-called "escort" wasn't a prostitute but a family friend. He added that such allegations "hurt my wife."
"It makes me sick," he added. "I've had enough."
The mayor also denied an allegation of making a reference to oral sex to a female staffer. "I have enough to eat at home," he said on camera to reporters.
CNN's Laura Dolan and Paula Newton contributed to this report from Toronto.
