Foe: DC has changed Crapo for worse
Both men are observant members of the Mormon church, which forbids consuming alcohol. And Crapo long had been known as a teetotaler, which made his Dec. 22, 2012, drunken driving arrest all the more shocking.
On Jan. 4, 2013, Crapo pleaded guilty, saying he’d begun drinking occasionally at home, in secret, a year earlier in a misguided attempt to relieve stress, and had never driven drunk before. The senator said he was discouraged because a late Friday night of Senate work caused him to miss a flight home, forcing him to spend an extra day away from family while waiting for a Sunday flight.
After the conviction, Crapo said he was swearing off alcohol and apologized.
Sturgill, a Boise businessman who serves as a bishop with his church, said the incident was among many factors that prompted him to run against Crapo. “I think historically he’s been a pretty good senator,” Sturgill said, “but in the last few years, especially the last three, he’s changed. D.C. has changed him.”
Sturgill said, “The DUI was the most visible example. What was he even doing in D.C. the day before the day before Christmas? … I have at least anecdotal evidence that people are, to put it kindly, disappointed in him. He professed to be a good member of our church. He held high office in the church, and basically lived a double life.”
Sturgill also contended that since the incident, Crapo has changed as a senator. “He has skewed way to the right, and he’s not as effective as he has been,” he said.
Crapo sharply disputed that. “As I did at the time, I apologize to the people of Idaho,” he said. “At the time, I faced up to what I had done. It was probably the worst time of my life, in terms of dealing with a mistake and misconduct that I had done. And I faced up to my legal obligations and met all of them, and told my constituents that I would work my hardest to gain their confidence and support, and I have done so. I mean, I’ve worked hard to help people understand that I learned from this very serious mistake.”
He added, “That being said, I don’t think that my opponent’s charge that I’ve changed in terms of my advocacy for the people of Idaho … is valid one bit. I still fight as aggressively for the principles and values that I told the people I would fight for, as I have on Day One. And I continue to focus on the very things that I said I would focus on.” More here (subscription).
Question: Do you agree/disagree that life in Washington, D.C., has changed U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo for the worse?
