(AP) -- A Republican state lawmaker charged with offering to perform
oral sex for $20 on an undercover male police officer vowed Thursday to
defend himself in court and said he would not resign from office.
''I am filing a not guilty plea. I am vigorously going to fight this,'' State Rep. Bob Allen, a co-chair of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign in Florida, said at a news conference. ``I am not resigning my office because the people elected me and want me to do a good job. I am going to do a good job for them in finishing this term.''
Allen called his arrest ''an ugly and unpleasant situation that has been thrust on me and my family.'' The lawmaker had sponsored a failed bill that would have tightened the state's prohibition on public sex.
He choked up when he thanked backers who had contacted him to offer their support. He warned people not to jump to conclusions about what happened but said he could not offer any details about the arrest because of his legal strategy. Allen is married and has a teenage daughter.
''It is not true. It is inaccurate and therefore, it's not guilty,'' Allen said.
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer said the matter would be addressed in a timely and appropriate matter.
''While this is an extremely serious matter, the House of Representatives and the judiciary system have established a process to deal with situations of this nature,'' Greer said in a statement.
Allen's arrest on Wednesday came days after a key Southern supporter of McCain opponent Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, was identified as a client of a Washington, D.C., escort service.
''It just seems sad and tragic,'' Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday when asked in Miami about Allen's arrest.
Veteran's Memorial Park was under surveillance when Allen was seen coming in and out of a restroom three times, said police Lt. Todd Hutchinson. Allen, 48, then approached an undercover officer and was arrested.
He has been charged with solicitation for prostitution, which has a maximum penalty of one year in jail. Brevard County jail officials said Allen posted a $500 bond.
While being transported to jail, Allen told WFTV Channel 9 that the situation was ``a very big misunderstanding.''
Allen was elected to the Florida House in 2000. He was chairman of the House Committee on Energy.
Allen was named in March as one of six co-chairs for McCain's Florida campaign.
just another republican C***sucker!
Posted by: gringo | July 13, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Rudy Giuliani or Vampire Ghouliani?
http://www.prosebeforehos.com/government_employee/06/19/rudy-giuliani-or-vampire/
Posted by: PBH | July 13, 2007 at 10:38 AM
STILL no mention in Herald coverage of the obvious contradiction between Allen's voting record on same-sex issues and his arrest.
Steve--are you taking this conversation forward in any manner within the newsroom? Yesterday, you suggested in a comment that surely this and more would be covered in time. So, here we are, lots of copy, no mention of the obvious.
Posted by: | July 13, 2007 at 11:13 AM
From today's story: "The lawmaker had sponsored a failed bill that would have tightened the state's prohibition on public sex." I spoke with folks from Equality Florida on Thursday and they're not aware of any other anti-gay votes by Allen. Please share if you have any new information. Thanks.
Posted by: Steve Rothaus | July 13, 2007 at 11:19 AM
First of all, I'm troubled that you would cite a public sex bill as proof of Allen's hypocrisy on same-sex issues. THAT is the subject where the Herald has failed here: you've failed to even mention Allen's poor record on same-sex issues, in light of his arrest.
You guys have Google over there, Steve?
"has been a supporter of amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and has opposed a bill to curb bullying of gay students."
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/07/071207mccain.htm
Posted by: | July 13, 2007 at 05:37 PM