MIKE JONES, FORMER GAY ESCORT 11/4/06

Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Fellowship, a mega-church in Colorado Springs, has voluntarily accepted administrative leave in light of the accusations of a "former" escort worker. He has also resigned from his position as president of the National Evangelical Association.

The "former" escort worker, Mike Jones, claims that Haggard had a three-year paid sex relationship with Haggard. He also maintains that Haggard did methamphetamine frequently during those three years before having sex. Jones denied selling the meth to Haggard, but admits that he "asked around" for it.

Mike Jones says he didn't know who Haggard was until six months ago when he saw him on the teevee during a workout at the gym. Haggard used the name, "Art." Evidence for these goings-ons: one envelope containing money with "Art" scrawled on one corner. Jones had two voice mails from Haggard but these had been erased.

For his part, Ted Haggard claimed he bought meth from Jones and received one massage from him, but no sex. He said he threw away the meth without using it. He said he was referred to Jones by a concierge of a hotel.

What is most intriguing about this newest scandal to me is why Mike Jones decided to come forward now. I doubt that it was out of a sense of public duty. Colorado Springs is noted for its' strong stance against glbt rights [even giving rise to a "Boycott Colorado" campaign several years back which was alleviated by a Coors beer advertising campaign catering to the glbt community]. James Dobson lives there. And Haggard speaks to President Bush or a close advisor once a week. I believe that Mike Jones is chiefly motivated by resentment against the forces in Colorado Springs which are blocking the passage of a gay marriage bill in Colorado. It will also be interesting to see if Mike Jones lawyers up for lawsuit purposes.

A male pastor having gay sex is no big whoop to me. I live close enough to Albany to have gotten to know some gay male priests and ministers who were sexually active with other men. It is probably bigger whoop to the wives of the male pastors who stand accused of the same.

sapphoq's verdict:
Mike Jones probably did sell the meth to Ted Haggard.
They probably did have sex.
The concierge of the hotel probably did refer Ted to Jones for male attentions.
Ted Haggard probably did do some meth, but probably not nearly as often as Mike Jones wants us to believe.
All three of them are minimizing their actions.
The evidence-- so far-- is not substantial.
The Colorado voters will mostly ignore this stuff and vote the way they were going to before the story broke.


radical sapphoq