Idaho Sen. Michael Crapo pleads guilty to DWI charge in Virginia

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Sen. Mike Crapo speaks after pleading guilty to DUI

Senator Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) spoke to reporters after his court appearance on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, saying he was deeply sorry for any disappointment he caused.

/ AP Photo

(CBS/AP) ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Senator Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, pleaded guilty Friday to driving while intoxicated in an Alexandria, Va., court and was ordered to pay a $250 fine and complete an alcohol safety program. He also agreed to a 12-month suspension of his driver's license.

Outside of court Crapo apologized and said he had been drinking alcohol a few nights a week, in violation of the tenets of his Mormon faith.

Crapo said he tried alcohol for the first time about a year ago, though he couldn't remember the details. It was a misguided attempt to relieve stress, he said, and he always kept his use of alcohol hidden, drinking alone in his Wash., D.C. apartment. The night of his arrest was the first time he had driven drunk, Crapo said.

Crapo was arrested on December 23 in Alexandria, Va., a suburb of Washington. His blood alcohol was recorded at 0.14 after he was brought to jail, well above the legal limit of 0.08.

Crapo told CBS News that, contrary to earlier reports, he was drinking vodka with tonic water, not straight vodka. He took a drive to "try to wind down," eventually turned around to head home, and was pulled over by police on his way home. He said that he is deeply embarrassed by his "poor choice" and the disappointment it has caused among his family, his constituents, and those who share his Mormon faith.

As long as he remains on good behavior, Crapo won't have to serve a 180-day suspended jail sentence. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a charge of failing to obey a traffic signal.

More on Crimesider
December 24, 2012 - Idaho Sen. Michael Crapo arrested on DUI charge in Virginia

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by vagrant45 January 8, 2013 6:57 PM EST: Well at least he did man up and not try to offer some weak excuse. No question what he did was wrong. But at least he was up front about it.Unlike that fellow who said "I did not have sex with that woman" a well known former president.; Reply to this comment


by cowdog123 January 7, 2013 6:46 AM EST: first time hes driven drunk? first times he got caught is more like it; Reply to this comment


by FormerUSMCSergeant January 6, 2013 3:24 PM EST: I sent Crapo an email asking how one who is so irresponsible as to not be able to maintain a driver's license could be qualified to be a Senator...10 to 1 all I'll get is silence.; Reply to this comment


by roscoedog January 5, 2013 7:11 PM EST: What bothers me the most about what Senator Crapo has said about when he drinks he drinks alone. He drank to releave stress. Those kind of statements show alcoholic traits. I also have read that Mormons that do drink 90% of them do so alcoholicly. Will have to say that at least he has manned up not like Mr Craig. I do feel there is more to the story than what has come out so far.; Reply to this comment


by 167irishboy January 5, 2013 6:59 PM EST: He tried alcohol for the first time a year ago and he turns into George Thorogoods song, "I drink alone." "You know when I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself." Ha ha. What a crock of Republican you know what.

Why didn't the guy just confess that he was really on his way to a Bible Convention and when he notice this pint of 100% proof vodka in the glove box of his car.; Reply to this comment


by Bob Fitz January 5, 2013 4:23 PM EST: Just a few months ago the Sheriff of Cochise County AZ died when he rolled his SUV on a logging road in the Flagstaff area. Not wearing a seat belt, empty liquor and beer bottles found at the scene, BAC way over the limit for DUI. He was also a member of the Mormon faith.; Reply to this comment


by VA_Jill January 5, 2013 2:08 PM EST: His church may be tougher on him than the court.....as far as he is concerned. The real question is, why was he alone in VA and where was his family, still back in Idaho?; Reply to this comment


by ralphing January 5, 2013 1:44 PM EST: Can't wait for him to come out gay. Practically every Republican in office does the very thing they swear they don't do.; Reply to this comment


by fasteddieNY January 5, 2013 10:19 AM EST: Leave the drinking to those of us that are directly affected by the ineptness of you. Mormon hypocrite.; Reply to this comment


by FormerUSMCSergeant January 4, 2013 9:13 PM EST: Senator Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, pleaded guilty Friday to driving while intoxicated in an Alexandria, Va., court and was ordered to pay a $250 fine and complete an alcohol safety program. He also agreed to a 12-month suspension of his driver's license.
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Morons like this haven't the judgement to manage their own personal affairs much less those of their constituents.; Reply to this comment

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