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John Cook, the Gawker editor who first reported that he saw an alleged video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking what may have been crack cocaine, is now saying the video might be “gone.”

In an article posted on the U.S. website Gawker Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Cook said that was what the owner of the alleged video told Gawker’s intermediary.

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“It’s gone. Leave me alone,” was the message Mr. Cook said he received Friday.

The National Post has not seen the alleged video nor is the Post able to verify its authenticity.

Mr. Cook wrote that the intermediary’s conversation with the alleged owner was short. “Gone” could mean the alleged video was destroyed, handed over to Mr. Ford, seized by police, given to someone else for safekeeping or just that the alleged owners are lying, Mr. Cook wrote.

He said Gawker’s intermediary also claimed a copy of the alleged video exists and is being held for safekeeping outside of Toronto. Mr. Cook said it is unclear if the alleged copy is also gone.