Idaho Senator Denies New Sex Allegations

8 Men Claim Larry Craig Had Sex With Them Or Made Sexual Advances, Paper Reports

(AP)  Eight men say they either had sex with Sen. Larry Craig or were targets of sexual advances by the Idaho lawmaker at various times during his political career, a newspaper reported Sunday. Craig called the charges "completely false."

One of the men is the former escort whose allegations disgraced the Rev. Ted Haggard, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Idaho Statesman reported.

The newspaper identified four men and reported details of the encounters they say involved Craig. It also reported the accounts of four other men who did not agree to be identified but who described sexual advances or encounters involving the conservative Republican, who opposes same-sex marriage and has a strong record against gay rights.

Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being accused by an undercover officer of soliciting sex at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and later called a news conference to deny that he is gay.

The newspaper acknowledged that its report was not based on definitive evidence but said it also found no evidence to disprove the accounts of the four identified men. It said it reviewed the senator's travel records, which put him where the sex is alleged to have taken place, and did background checks on those making the allegations.

Craig and members of his staff declined to comment to the newspaper.

But in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press on Sunday, the senator said the newspaper's report was "completely false" and he accused the paper of careless journalism.

"It is unfortunate that the Idaho Statesman has chosen to continue to lower itself to the standards of what can best be described as tabloid journalism," Craig said in the statement.

"Despite the fact the Idaho Statesman has decided to pursue its own agenda and print these falsehoods without any facts to back them up, I won't let this paper's attempt to malign my name stop me from continuing my work to serve the people of Idaho."

The report is the Statesman's latest on allegations about Craig's sexual background since his June arrest in an airport men's room sex sting operation was reported in late August.

Statesman Editor Vicki Gowler said the newspaper spent several months checking the backgrounds and details of the men's stories.

"We believe it's important for you to know what we've learned and to hear the men's own words," Gowler said.

Two of the identified men and one of the unidentified men told the newspaper they had sex with Craig.

One of the men identified in the report, Mike Jones, 50, described as a former male escort, was the focus of the sex scandal involving Haggard, the disgraced leader of Colorado's New Life Church.

Jones said Craig paid him $200 for sex in late 2004 or early 2005. The encounter took place at a studio apartment in downtown Denver, Jones said.

Jones told the Statesman that he did not recognize Craig until his arrest made the news. The newspaper reported that Jones went on the record after Craig appeared in a television news report in August to address the arrest and his future in politics.

Jones has written a book about his experience with Haggard and acknowledged to the Statesman that his allegation about Craig might help sales. A message left for Jones by The Associated Press through his publisher Sunday evening was not immediately returned.

Current phone numbers could not be found for the three other men identified in the Statesman's report.

Amid pressure from top GOP leaders in Washington, Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate. He later changed his mind, deciding to finish out his term, which expires in January 2009. He is also appealing in Minnesota courts to have his guilty plea overturned.

The undercover police officer who arrested Craig said the senator moved his foot next to the officer's foot and tapped it in a way that indicated he wanted sex. He also alleged the senator sent a signal by swiping his hand under the divider between men's room stalls.

Craig has said the officer misconstrued those motions.

[denn034]

This Reagan Republican denies the Senator.

[jankebenz]

Oh my lord, did you just say that? Statistical speaking the lesbian community has the lowest percentage of Aids/HIV infections. Also we have the lowest occurance of STDs of any kind.
Get your information right, and quit spreading hate.

Posted by hippychicky at 12:37 PM : Dec 04, 2007

Where did you get that load of hogwash? From some lgt newsletter no doubt,and we all know about the accuracy of those stats.Sure, lesbos do have a lower rate of aids then queer men, but are still much higher than the norm

[hippychicky-2009]

I could care less about the world-wide statistics of aids. I care about it right here in this country, and queers spread this disease, which has over-lapped into the normal population. What devastation from totally repugnant behavior.

Have a nice day.
Posted by drivelphobe

Oh my lord, did you just say that? Statistical speaking the lesbian community has the lowest percentage of Aids/HIV infections. Also we have the lowest occurance of STDs of any kind.
Get your information right, and quit spreading hate.

[hippychicky-2009]

I think its all very amusing. He should just come on out of the closet, and own his sexuality..
The only thing that gets me worked up are closeted people who condemn the rest of us, while they secretly dip their own hands in the cookie jar..
Be proud....of who you are..

[prinzowhales]

Will any Idahoan who has NOT been approached for *** by the Toe-Tapper please contact a mental health professional to deal with the self-esteem issues this must have dredged up....

Perhaps the Toe-Tapper can find Trent Lott''s private number scratched on one of the Senate bathroom stalls...you can bet Barney has had both their numbers for some time!

[starleo146]

Larry Craig shot himself in the foot posted by Mudrose

He did more than shoot himself in the foot, he dragged the republican party down with him,and I am so glad I want to clean all the tap-taps out.

[starleo146]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
aha,.....man,.....what a pathetic, lying, GOPerv POS,......
That''''s all I have to say about that.

Posted by veteran71 at 06:33 AM : Dec 04, 2007

This man and all the other republicans that have disgraced there party THANK YOU for helping the democrats and for the rest of you c''mon out won''t you so we can have a landslide VICTORY. Do not stop on my account

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose at 12:58 PM: Have you ever wondered what three inner city wall artists with two cans of spray paint can do to one leopard caged in a circus? In 15 seconds they could make that puppy look like a bunny running thru a bamboo forest while he''''s sleeping. Shhhh ... don''''t wake him. Come to think about it, in 15 seconds they could make Craig in a Stall look like a bunny running thru a bamboo forest while he''''s sleep reaching in his mental closet.
Posted by glaswolf

Larry Craig shot himself in the foot. It is very infected and it will kill him. Do I care about spay paint cans and what artistic azzholes can do? Not really. Do I care about Larry Craig and his values? No. Do I feel very sorry for the family he has created and suckered? Yeah. Above that, I could care less what and where Larry Craig ends up.

[glaswolf]

Candide777 at 04:46 PM: "when caught red-handed, deny, deny, deny, and attack your accuser" This was a hallmark of hardcore communist organizers: accuse your attackers of your own crimes and claim to be acting from their principles. For example: England encourages embargo of Burma, people suffer from stifling economic oppression due to shortages, England blames Burmese General for forcing the outside world into creating the spectre of starvation for her people. It is pure and simple blackmail, like denying a family food because the parents aren''t sufficiently compliant. Crime elevated to the level of formal international politics.

[caldwellptr]

I would like to have *** with Larry Craig.

[kansas1946]

Poor Larry. The closet is a lonely place to be.

[candide777]

I would have no problem with Larry Criag if it wasn''''t for his hypocrisy and he attempts to push an anti-ga*y agenda just to hide his fear of who and what he is.
Posted by SgtRDS at 05:03 PM : Dec 03, 2007

I''d have no problem with republicans if it weren''t for their hypocrisy and attempts to push a pro-war agenda in order to hide the fact that they honestly don''t give a rat''s a$$ about the welfare of our country.

[sgtrds]

I would have no problem with Larry Criag if it wasn''t for his hypocrisy and he attempts to push an anti-ga*y agenda just to hide his fear of who and what he is. He is a ga*y man. He should come out of the closet and admit it once and for all.

[candide777]

Boy, he''s still taking his plays straight out of the Karl Rove book of dirty tricks: when caught red-handed, deny, deny, deny, and attack your accuser. Apparently, this strategy is still working for republicans who have made an art out of lying to the American people about things that are as plain as the buckshot in the face of Cheney''s hunting partner.

[glaswolf]

ttinsly at 02:43 PM: As regards to manliness, the most capable men in danger tend to be extemely soft spoken, especially when surrounded by formally recognized excutioners of military societies of uncertain loyalties. Maniliness in these situation is almost has little bravado. Yet, in defense of ttinsly at 02:43 PM: As regards to manliness, the most capable men in danger tend to be extemely soft spoken, especially when surrounded by formally recognized excutioners of military societies of uncertain loyalties. Maniliness in these situation is almost has little bravado. Yet, in ttinsly at 02:43 PM: As regards to manliness, the most capable men in danger tend to be extemely soft spoken, especially when surrounded by formally recognized excutioners of military societies of uncertain loyalties. Maniliness in these situation is almost has little bravado. Yet, in defense of drivelphobe and family male and female marriage only, "Thomas Jefferson would have had open homosexuals killed" is a statement at least one Harvard Law Professor of sound and honest reflection in these regards would agree. Hypocrisy such as Oxi-Cotton Limbaugh and his "throw away the key" parallels Craig''s hypocrisy of behavior ... both went out of their way to purposely damage, beyond necessity and warrant, the lives others doing no more than what they did on a regular basis.

[glaswolf]

mudrose at 12:58 PM: Have you ever wondered what three inner city wall artists with two cans of spray paint can do to one leopard caged in a circus? In 15 seconds they could make that puppy look like a bunny running thru a bamboo forest while he''s sleeping. Shhhh ... don''t wake him. Come to think about it, in 15 seconds they could make Craig in a Stall look like a bunny running thru a bamboo forest while he''s sleep reaching in his mental closet.

[drivelphobe]

ttinsly...

Thanks for your name calling, repressed psycho, ignorant, neanderthal, etc. I''m also not Christian, so don''t insult me with that too.

I could care less about the world-wide statistics of aids. I care about it right here in this country, and queers spread this disease, which has over-lapped into the normal population. What devastation from totally repugnant behavior.

Have a nice day.

[mudrose-2009]

MudRose...thanks for the sentiments..

Posted by crzmeat

I understand. No thanks necessary.

[Krazcarl]

mocaleq....DO YOU HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY FOR ANYTHING BESIDES HATE???WERE YOU A VICTUM

[Krazcarl]

MudRose...thanks for the sentiments..