Idaho Sen. Michael Crapo Arrested For DUI In Virginia
Alexandria, VA — Sen. Michael Crapo (R.-Idaho) was arrested in Virginia for driving under the influence early Sunday morning.
Police spokesman Craig T. Fifer said an Alexandria police officer was on a routine patrol when he saw the senator’s car run a red light. The vehicle was stopped at Hume Avenue and Mount Vernon at 12:45 am, according to CBS News.
Crapo took — and failed — several field sobriety tests. He was taken into custody without incident.
Sen. Crapo is a member of the “Gang of Eight,” a bipartisan group of senators who have come together to try and work on a budget deal that would prevent the country from going over the “fiscal cliff.” Crapo is one of four Republicans in the “Gang.” The other three are Saxby Chambliss (Georgia), Tom Coburn (Oklahoma), and Mike Johanns (Nebraska).
The four Democratic senators are Mark Warner (Virginia), Dick Durbin (Illinois), Kent Conrad (North Dakota), and Michael Bennett (Colorado).
Crapo said, “The fiscal cliff is looming, and discouragingly, it appears increasingly like an agreement is not coming together.” He is recommending an approach that combines reforming the tax code, entitlement programs, and Congress’s budgeting process.
Crapo is currently the minority party member with the most seniority on the Senate Banking Committee. He wants to reform the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, as well as make reforms to Fannie May and Freddie Mac. While the third-term senator has not yet been named as the committee’s ranking member, the consensus on Capitol Hill is that the decision is all but official.
According to the Associated Press, Crapo was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond around 5 am. His court date is set for January 4.
