Police: Idaho Sen. Crapo busted for DUI in Washington, D.C.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence in a Washington, D.C., suburb, authorities said.
Police in Alexandria, Va., said Sunday that the Idaho Republican was pulled over after his vehicle ran a red light. Police spokesman Jody Donaldson said Crapo failed field sobriety tests and was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. He was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond at about 5 a.m..
"There was no refusal (to take blood alcohol tests), no accident, no injuries," Donaldson said. "Just a traffic stop that resulted in a DUI."
Police said Crapo, who was alone in his vehicle, registered a blood alcohol content of .110. The legal limit in Virginia, which has strict drunken driving laws, is .08.
The 61-year-old Crapo has a Jan. 4 court date.
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."
A Crapo spokesman declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Currently in his third term, Crapo has been in the Senate since 1998, and served for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives before that. He was easily re-elected in 2010, and won't have to run again until 2016.
In Congress, Crapo has built a reputation as a staunch social and fiscal conservative. It was expected he would take over the top Republican spot next year on the Senate Banking Committee. He also serves on the Senate's budget and finance panels. Crapo was a member of the so-called "Gang of Six" senators that worked in 2011 toward a deficit-reduction deal that was never adopted by Congress.
A Mormon who grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Crapo was named a bishop in the church at age 31. He is an attorney who graduated from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He has five children with his wife, Susan, and three grandchildren.
The Mormon Church prohibits the use of alcohol, as well as caffeine and other mind-altering substances. The state has a significant Mormon population.
Crapo has told the Associated Press in past interviews that he abstains from drinking alcohol.
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Associated Press writers Norman Gomlak in Atlanta and Josh Lederman in Washington contributed to this report.
Police in Alexandria, Va., said Sunday that the Idaho Republican was pulled over after his vehicle ran a red light. Police spokesman Jody Donaldson said Crapo failed field sobriety tests and was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. He was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond at about 5 a.m..
"There was no refusal (to take blood alcohol tests), no accident, no injuries," Donaldson said. "Just a traffic stop that resulted in a DUI."
Police said Crapo, who was alone in his vehicle, registered a blood alcohol content of .110. The legal limit in Virginia, which has strict drunken driving laws, is .08.
The 61-year-old Crapo has a Jan. 4 court date.
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."
A Crapo spokesman declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Currently in his third term, Crapo has been in the Senate since 1998, and served for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives before that. He was easily re-elected in 2010, and won't have to run again until 2016.
In Congress, Crapo has built a reputation as a staunch social and fiscal conservative. It was expected he would take over the top Republican spot next year on the Senate Banking Committee. He also serves on the Senate's budget and finance panels. Crapo was a member of the so-called "Gang of Six" senators that worked in 2011 toward a deficit-reduction deal that was never adopted by Congress.
A Mormon who grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Crapo was named a bishop in the church at age 31. He is an attorney who graduated from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He has five children with his wife, Susan, and three grandchildren.
The Mormon Church prohibits the use of alcohol, as well as caffeine and other mind-altering substances. The state has a significant Mormon population.
Crapo has told the Associated Press in past interviews that he abstains from drinking alcohol.
___
Associated Press writers Norman Gomlak in Atlanta and Josh Lederman in Washington contributed to this report.
He blew .11 and yes that's drunk! Still it shows a US Senator is only human like the rest of us? I have had 3 D.U.I's in Oregon and I paid dearly for it, it was my fault yes and I shouldn't have been driving drunk, my fines kept an army of clueless therapist in a paycheck! I don't question that he's wrong? I question this system of dealing with drunk drivers! I am saying it has a main interest in money not help or public safety? maybe a little bit I can concede that but it's mostly money? I sobered up finally on my own and am now in my 8th year of sobriety! I decided I would not allow myself and my pocketbook to be a target of these people!'' But back to the Senator we will see if all are created equal in the eyes of the Virginia law?
@disenchanted1 If you got 3 DUIs you were not a 'target of these people'. You made your choices....far more than the 3 times you were caught and covicted.
We should have assault weapon armed red light cameras! Â
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I suspect that he will get the same result that a first-time DUI in Oregon would get: License suspension for 90 days, mandatory victim training sessions, alcohol diversion training classes with random monitored BAC for a year and probably a BA machine on his car for a year. Â
 @hewhoo Those penalties are for the "little people",
not for dedicated "leaders".
'Tis the season full of folly...oh, waits...so is every other season for drunk drivers.
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Some leader he turned out to be...nothing like leading by example, is there?
 @Mikey Crapo took one on himself.
 Look at the language. "'I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance,' Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. * * * 'I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated.""
It is so passive. "The actions that resulted in this circumstance"? Really? How about: "I am sorry for MY actions. "I really screwed up, and I am truly sorry. I will seek help and I promise this will never happen again."Â
 @Hondo He was a victim of circumstances!
@Hondo  If he promised it would never happen again, it would be just more lies from a professional liar (politician).
Diplomatic immunity!!!!! Â Oh wait..
Our politicians are such shining examples to look up too......
Let me make a wild guess as to what will happen to him:
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The other hypocrites in the senate will "censure" him,
which means no loss in pay, benefits or any other luxury we all finance.
He and his wife will make a tearful apology accepting responsibility.
He'll make a token contribution to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
He'll take some time off golfing in the Bahamas.
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Then it will be back to business as usual.
Serving the interests of big corporations.
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By the time he's up for re-election,
the public will have forgotten the whole thing.
Stick to the back roads of Idaho for drunken fun.
Yet another "laws don't apply to me" in our Government. Â If his peers have a shred of decency or respect they will call for his resignation. Â
 @Umhal That's the trouble with Congress...they've already shred anything resembling decency or respect for the people of this country into filling for their litter boxes.
@Umhal  I agreed with everything you said except for the part about his peers. Apparently you forgot who his peers are (elected officials). They are afraid to say too much about this because they know they may be next.
 @Umhal "If his peers have a shred of decency or respect..."
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Ha ha...good one!
Oops...he showed he is human and can screw up. Will be interesting to see how it all ends up. At least he did not try to deny it. Luckily no one was injured. With that high a BAC he may have done this before, or is this a one time screwup?
Mormons don't drink alcohol.
 @Buck Schott True. There must be come mistake.
 @Buck Schott some
Resign idiot. Drunk Driving is NOT an accident. It is a blatant disregard for our laws. How can a lawmaker not obey the law?  OOOppps, that was stupid question, I forgot, laws are only for peons and I guess they are above the law.
Well now. What a fine example.Â