(CNN) – A friend of President Barack Obama was arrested Monday for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.
Robert Richard Titcomb, 49, was arrested with three other men Monday night and released later that evening after posting $500 bail. He is scheduled to appear at the Honolulu District Court May 2.
The Honolulu Department of Public Safety confirmed Titcomb's arrest to CNN Wednesday. The Honolulu Police Department confirmed an arrest with matching information but would not disclose the name of the individual.
According to Hawaii News Now, Titcomb and the president have been close friends since high school. The two are frequently seen golfing and dining together when the Obama family visits Hawaii.
Most recently the Obama family spent time with the Titcombs on a trip to Hawaii in late December 2010 and early January 2011. White House pool reports at the time noted Titcomb by name on multiple dates during the trip. According to CNN records, President Obama golfed with Titcomb on December 23, December 26, December 28 and January 2. The first family was joined by the Titcomb family on Christmas Day and spent most of December 30 at the Titcomb residence eating, playing volleyball and enjoying time on the beach. The first couple also had dinner with the Titcomb on December 29.
Titcomb had no comment when reached by Hawaii News Now.
– CNN's Gabriella Schwarz, Amanda Watts and Justin Lear contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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As President, Obama is a friend of every American and there will be bad apples in the basket, but let's focus on the good people who are also his friends.
Just follow the republican play book... come on camera crying, and say that you spoken to your wife and Jesus, and they have both forgiven you.....
This guy's last name is almost–ALMOST–a study in Nominative Determinism...
What did Aesop say? "Birds of a feather flock together." "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are."
Amazing. Who paid to dig this one up? Are you kidding me...this is news? You would think is was the President himself that was caught. Let's stick with the politicians like Newt, who cheated on, not just one, but two wives, now that's about his character alone, not his friends. Maybe Trump dug this up on his way to HA to find a birth certificate. Desperate times in politics!
So CNN can't reveal the person's name but can say that he is Back Obama's "friend". Strange how we do things here?
This is the type of tabloid reporting that gives media a bad name. It is borne simply out of an opportunity to "word smyth" two words[Obama & prostitution] together in a headline, no matter how inaccurate or misleading. There is NO story here that pertains to the President or belongs on the "political" ticker.
And? Does this tie in Obama? The right will give it a good shot.
And if he wasn't a friend of the President Obama this wouldn't have made the news. So what? Titcom commited the crime, not President Obama.
Slow day for CNN's Gabriella Schwarz, Amanda Watts and Justin Lear, Who care about this. I hope he or she was pretty. He allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute. MY MY MY MY
So why is this news worthy?I think you need to report on something news worthy,not this garbage.you're trying to make our president look bad!!!As for me you make your selves look badnmaking this news worthy!!!get responsible and stop this tabloid bs!!!
This fellow can soon be added to the list of Obama's close friends, like Ayers and Wright, who Obama will now claim he never knew or can hardly remember.
Isn't this a disservice to all the other people (both men and women) who have been arrested for prostitution. They didn't get the opportunity for publicity.
God help us if we all are to be judged on the company we may have kept at one time or another!!! I wonder what YOU have in your closet????
Why is this newsworthy?
So what's the big deal? They were high school buddies and keep in touch. Why is this news? Is President Obama supposed to be held responsible for things his old buddies do or are alleged to have done? This story is nuts!
I used to visit Honolulu quite often and I have never seen a place with so many aggressive (female) prostitutes in my life. Walking back from the clubs at 1:00 a.m. (to the hotel) was like running an obstacle course. They would come up and smile and actually take my arm asking if we might "spend some time together." After a while I simply explained; "Sorry, but I just kissed my boyfriend goodnight – he gets mighty jealous!" It always sent them off to the next prospect. (lol! true!)
This is a family tragedy, not a national or political one. News people – find some decency and leave them alone.
Umm...who cares? Was it Obama who done it? Why is this making headlines at CNN?
Oooooh!!!! A man soliciting a prostitute, the horror of it all! And he was with a couple of other guys, probably having a night out on the town or some such sordid activity. Ooooooh! And he knows Barack, therefore Barack was probably with them at the time, and if he wasn't then he's probably guilty of being with this guy at some other time doing some other thing that we're going to dig, and dig,and dig until we find out what it was! Bank on it, we're ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Puleeze. Is this the BEST you can do?
What in HADES does this have to do with President Obama?? This is a NON-STORY! Please someone give me a quarter for everytime a friend of an elected official does something nefarious. I'd be RICH!.....Republicans, don't even open your mouths. You have no room to talk. Not only are the friends of some Republicans shady, but we have a long recent list of the wrongdoings of Republican (and Democrat) officials doing bad things....CNN please stick to the real news!
birds of a feather hang together
Just because they are friends does not mean Obama knew of his infidelities, most likely it was kept as a secret. In any case he is his friend not his watchdog.
And so? Obama's friend behaves like a Republican legislator? This should make GOP people more comfortable with the president.
Poor Mr. Titcomb. If you weren't good friends with this overly-persecuted President this whole thing would've blown over with a simple fine, just like they do to everyone else they catch soliciting a prostitute.
Maybe if you swore to God and gave them your word that this won't happen again, you'd get off with a slap on the wrist.....
naaaaa!!! You're a friend of thge President so annoint yourself in preparation for your CRUCIFIXTION.