Pipe Dream Pols: 10 Politician Drug Scandals [PHOTOS]
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Drugs often lie at the sticky center of the scandals involving politicians, businessmen and even governments. Toronto mayor Rob Ford latest infraction has reignited the discussion about widespread corruption within political administrations.
The Twitterverse blew in two with reaction to Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s admission that he smoked crack cocaine. A well-known political goof, Ford has haphazardly stumbled from one personal controversy to the next since his election in 2010. Reports come down from the wire that a film, supposedly recorded by drug dealers, showed the mayor of Canada’s biggest city smoking out of what looked like a crack pipe.
With the video being flogged online to the highest bidder, Mr. Ford stoods his ground in dismissing the allegations. This isn’t the first time and won’t be the last that a leader, businessman or political figure won’t get busted for smoking rocks.
And while we will never know the extent to which narcotics affect our history, we take a look at 10 other politican drug scandals that starred members involved in central levels of government.
We start things off with the Mayor of Olive Hill, Kentucky:
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Danny Sparks
Sparks was arrested in November 2012 for allegedly selling pot to a police informant—in the parking lot of an elementary school, no less.
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Marion Barry
The most infamous on this list, the former Washington, D.C. mayor was arrested back in 1991 on charges of possession of cocaine. He was re-elected, but that didn’t stop him from pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges in 2005. Another drug test showed Barry as being positive for cocaine and marijuana.
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Luke Flanagan
One of Ireland’s most recognizable faces, “Maniac Ming” recently admitted that he would give up his habitual love for the sticky-icky in order to keep his seat in the Dáil. The parliamentarian promises to make green legal in the greenland.
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Steven Purcell
Tony Blair’s “visionary” Scottish councillor resigned amid a growing drugs scandal. In 2009, police actually warned him about an underworld plot to blackmail him for his indiscretions.
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Larry Craig
This 1982 ABC News report highlight the troubles of then U.S. House Representative Larry Craig. He was trying to dodge association with this congressional drug and sex scandal.
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Bill Lockyer
The current California State Treasurer caught national headlines when he and his wife became caught up in a drug and sex scandal, which resulted in his wife leaving office.
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Steve Katz
Arrested in New York, the Republican was busted by state troopers who pulled him over for speeding. Despite being a staunch anti-marijuana advocate, Katz was booked for possession of marijuana. How’s that for the war on drugs?!
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Reagan Ufomba
Caught with heroin and linked with drug trafficking in Nigeria, this Ogoni-born politician is also being hunted by the APGA to whom he owes a lot of money to.
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Orlando Ranaldi
The 53-year-old Italian politician holds a managerial position within the country’s upper house of parliament. He’s currently being accused of being part of a criminal gang who run a cocaine ring in southern Rome.
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Mel LeBlanc
Arlington, Texas’ interim deputy mayor was detained by police in February 2012 when he was caught obtaining meth and marijuana from prostitutes. LeBlanc had been under investigation since July 2011 when his own wife, Candy, called 911 to snitch express her concern.
Did we miss any scandals, gladiators?! Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
