Republican U.S. Senator Crapo charged with drunk driving

USPA News - Republican U.S. Senator Michael Crapo was arrested in Virginia on early Sunday morning after running a red light and subsequently failing several field sobriety tests, police said on Monday. He is due to appear in court early next month.

Police in Alexandria, a city approximately 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) south of downtown Washington, D.C., said an officer on a routine patrol initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle after it had gone through a red traffic signal. Crapo was identified as the driver and arrested after failing multiple field sobriety tests. "He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Alexandria Adult Detention Center where he was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond," the Alexandria Police Department said in a statement. It said Crapo`s blood alcohol content (BAC) level was 0.11, above Virginia`s legal limit of 0.08. Crapo, who is due to appear in court on January 4 after being charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence, later apologized for his actions. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me," he said in a statement released by his office. The statement from the Republican, who has served as the U.S. Senator from Idaho since January 1999, added: "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." The 61-year-old lawmaker has a reputation as a social and fiscal conservative, and he previously said in interviews that he abstains from drinking alcohol. Being a Mormon, this is consistent with his church`s doctrine, which prohibits the use of alcohol, as well as coffee, tea and other substances.