State GOP lawmaker in gay sex scandal
Watch CNN's Carol Costello report on the latest scandal.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - It has been a truly scandalous few months for the GOP - for the third time in three months a Republican lawmaker is accused of soliciting sex with another man.
This time it's Washington State Rep. Richard Curtis - whose “I’m not gay” defense sounds a lot like Florida State Rep. Bob Allen's and Idaho Senator Larry Craig's.
Curtis told the Columbian newspaper in Spokane that he did not have sex with the man.
But the Spokane police department tell CNN a different story.
They say that on October 26, Curtis, dressed in women's lingerie, is alleged to have approached a young man in the "Hollywood Erotic Boutique."
The rest of the story is contained in a graphic 50 page police document. The young man alleges Curtis offered him $1,000 for unprotected sex at a nearby hotel.
And he says, "At the conclusion of the sexual activities, Curtis fell asleep."
The police report says the man, Cody Castagna, then took Curtis’ wallet - in order to extort money from the representative - and "threatened to publicly expose Richard Curtis' gay lifestyle to his wife."
At that point, police say Curtis called on an officer to investigate, hoping the incident would go away once police nabbed a suspect for taking his wallet.
Instead the media got wind of the case and found Curtis' alleged sex partner-who went public with his attorney.
"He gave me his wallet…as collateral for what he promised me" said Castagna.
It's a particularly ugly drama unfolding around another conservative Republican lawmaker. Like Florida State Rep. Bob Allen, who has pled not guilty to a charge of soliciting gay sex in July and Sen. Larry Craig, who is trying to withdraw his guilty plea on a charge of disorderly conduct in a restroom at Minneapolis Airport.
Curtis is married with children - and votes conservatively. He has voted against a domestic partnership bill, and a bill that would have outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation.
On Wednesday he announced he was resigning his seat and said in a statement: “Events that have recently come to light have hurt a lot of people. I sincerely apologize for any pain my actions may have caused.
“This has been damaging to my family, and I don't want to subject them to any additional pain that might result from carrying out this matter under the scrutiny that comes with holding public office.”
The Spokane County prosecutor is considering whether to bring a charge of extortion against Castagna.
- CNN's Carol Costello
Yes, Richard Curtis, you ARE gay. You were born with it. You may not be flaming, but you do feel that way towards men every now and then. It's okay. Suck it up and join the club, man!
"The difference is and many of my like minded posters have said this as well, both sides have jerks that make each party look bad, the difference is that only one party admits it."
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Did Rep. Richard Curtis admit he is gay? Did Sen. Larry Craig admit it? Did McCain's Florida campaign co-chairman State Senator Bob Allen admit anything? Did Dennis Hastert do anything about Mark Foley? Craig. Hastert and Sen. David Vitters are still in office.
Yes, there are jerks on both sides. However, it is only wishful thinking to want to believe that it is equal on both sides. Take a count of all the sexual morality hypocrites and see how close it is. Even Ronald Reagan and Fred Thompson had to marry pregnant girlfriends.
Is comparing homosexuality to incest and beastiality really the best argument you can come up with? –Andrew Moyell
Are you saying that my RIGHTS are not as equally important as yours due to my sexual orientation??
Okay, he's scum. Any Republican who touts "family values" and then gets caught with his pants down should be villified. But I'd like to see Congressman Jefferson get nailed for the cash he hid in his freezer, as well as the missing Atlantic City mayor, and Robert "KKK" Byrd, and Barney "house of prostitution" Frank, and Teddy "neck brace" Kennedy, et al. BOTH political parties have their share of hypcocrites and criminals and low-lifes, and they tend to get away with it more readily than the average American. So what else is new? Let's try voting them out of office for a change.
Add me and my pig Elmer to that list who want change. No, Elmer's not a sow. That's right, the movie had it bassackwards... Ever seen a pigz dic? Long as yur four arm and all scruwy, like one of them fancy wine bottle openers. Suuuweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
"Gee Rob – do tell us all, exactly HOW have Republicans told you how to live your life?
By the way – how does it feel being a mouthpiece? No substance – just howling because someone of the opposite party got into trouble.
Posted By Phil Chicago, Ill : November 1, 2007 3:42 pm "
Gee Phil, maybe these characters have told me how to live my life by making laws that tell me what's moral and what's not, what I can and can't do if you don't understand. Maybe if they would set an example and live what they preach we could go along with it or at least understand, but the hypocrisy of these guys is just plain nuts. Oh and by the way I am not a "mouthpeice" for the Dems I personally feel that is the biggest problem with our country. You have to be one or the other.
The big story is that these Republicans were lying all along. The Clinton impeachment was really a purely political scam. The Republicans knew full well it was a trivial issue, and they used it to the hilt for political gain for many years. Now, when the shoe is on the other foot, you can see the Republicans squirm and spin. They shot themselves in the foot many times over, by using sex as a political tool. What goes around comes around.
Who cares what political party it is? God doesn't.
Who cares what sin it is? God doesn't.
On Judgement Day, which is surely coming, and racing towards us sooner than most folks think.....
What will any of us say when God asks, "What part of the Ten Commandments did you not understand?"
Geez so what else is new? Anyone see "American Beauty" ? Rent it, you might learn something. Conservatives are nutoriouly gay. They use the "hard line" of Conservative speak to hide behind. Think of it as the Repulican Party's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule. Don't be shocked if you hear John "Boner" is getting one too!