Picture this for a second-You're a US Senator, a cop arrests you and charges that you have tried to entice him into a lewd liason. You haven't done it-Your initial reaction? Shock & anger. You gather your composure, identify yourself and eventually wind up before a magistrate. You explain the situation when asked to plead and because you aren't guilty and you are embarrased and outraged, you plead "Not Guilty". You get a lawyer, you get a court date and you get exonerated. It is totally inconceivable that an innocent man, a US Senator no less, would pay a healthy fine & accept a one year probation all because you wanted to make it go away. It's more reasonable to believe that you would do all that if you were hoping & praying that no one would ever find out. The senator exited the closet, got caught in a police sting and now he's trying to do what politicians do best, LIE!!

As a gay man who had a somewhat promiscuous past, many years ago, I can tell you without a moment's hesitation, that everything described in the police report is exactly the manner in which gay sex is solicited in public men's rooms. I have lived it, observed it, and talked about it enough to recognize every move that was described by the police report. The senator's excuses are sadly laughable. But what isn't laughable is that here is a sick, self-loathing individual who considers admitting to being gay the most horrible thing a person should ever have to do. He would rather live a lie, lose his career, and live in the prison of the closet than admit to who he is, as if being gay is some kind of dread disease.

Is he married? If so, is his wife sticking with him? Why has he quit a national political campaign? On the surface it appears to be a minor faux pas. If I had been caught behind the bushes on one of my long runs relieving myself I'd be facing a similar charge. I might be charged [and with child molestation if I happened to choose a bush near a playground. That's what public lewdness is really all about. How such a thing can happen in a public restroom escapes me. How do you "accidentally" physically infringe on someone else's space in a public restroom?

This twisted closet case should retire to ponder his perversion. An out and honest gay person is not a pervert, while someone who denies and twists his true nature and becomes an impostor and hypocrite in the process of refusing to accept his true and god-given fundamental sexual orientation surely merits that moniker. I suspect that the Senators marriage was one of convenience soon after he got the scare of his life when he was almost named as a pedophile with Congressional Pages back in 1982. He has never begotten children. The children he claims to be his, are such by adoption only, as they are the byproduct of the wife's previous marriage with a heterosexual man. The media seems to miss this important distinction, although most closet cases are also married and frequently beget children in order to try to obtain some validation for their pretended heterosexuality. The majority of these sickos who enjoy sex in toilets are married to women. Its these perverts who give gay people a bad name.

Revelations of the restroom rendezvous' of I da ho Senator Larry Craig has spurred speculation that NBC's Brian Williams may request the assistance of "To Catch A Predator's " Chris Hanson in covering the 2008 GOP Convention .

News Flash:
Republican officeholders having sex in public restrooms ain't new , here is the case of a A Republican Judge appointed by a Republican Governor from 2001 . It seems assuming a wide stance in public restrooms is just one of the less ballyhooed of GOP traditions .

August , 2001

Judge is accused of indecent act

By David Shepardson / The Detroit News

ROMULUS -- A Wayne County Circuit judge

began a 30-day paid leave of absence Monday in the

wake of his arrest on an indecent-behavior charge at

Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Judge Richard B. Halloran, 53, was arrested

Thursday night by an undercover officer after he was apparently seen performing a sex act

on himself. He's at least the third person arrested at an airport bathroom in the last two

weeks.

Airport police would not release a copy of the police report, and airport spokeswoman

Barbara Hogan said they wouldn't discuss any aspect of the case.

"We're not going to violate someone's privacy," Hogan said.

It's unclear whether Halloran attempted to solicit the undercover officer.

He could be charged with indecent exposure for the sex act.

Indecent exposure is a high misdemeanor punishable by a year in the county jail, and

conviction would include placement on the sex offender registry.

However, a conviction for a first-time offender typically results in probation, counseling

and a fine.

In any event, the arrest will be referred to the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

Wayne Circuit Court Chief Judge Michael Sapala said Halloran had taken a leave of

absence, but didn't know when the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office would make a

decision. "I'm sure the powers that be will handle this as it should be handled," Sapala

said.

Halloran's attorney, John Allen, issued a statement saying only that he is entitled to a

presumption of innocence.

"The judge has provided many years of faithful service to the citizens of Wayne County.

He has the support of his family and friends and thanks all who have come forward with

their encouragement," Allen said.

Halloran lives in Detroit with his wife and has two children. He is assigned to the court's

family division and hears domestic violence cases and requests for personal protection

orders, along with alleged violations of orders.

Prosecutors were to meet Monday afternoon to decide what, if any, charges should be

filed against Halloran, and whether they should ask another office -- including the attorney

general or Oakland County Prosecutor's Office -- to handle any prosecution. A decision

might not come until early next month.

Visiting Judge David Kerwin will handle Halloran's docket during his absence.

You can reach David Shepardson at (313) 222-2028 or dshepardson@detnews.com.

http://detnews.com/2001/metro/0107/31/d01-258053.htm (1 of 2) [8/20/2001 8:43:58 PM]

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Judge Cleared in Sex Sting Case
Prosecutor Says Decoy Operation Using Undercover Cop at Airport Was Flawed

By Margarita Bauza

The Detroit News, August 7, 2001

DETROIT — The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will not charge a circuit judge arrested last month after police said he agreed to engage in a consensual sex act with a man who was actually a Metro Airport police decoy.

Details of the incident involving Wayne County Judge Richard B. Halloran, who is on a paid 30-day leave in connection with the incident, are still unclear because officials would not release their report.

Wayne County Prosecutor Michael Duggan said Metro Airport’s decoy operation was flawed.

"I’m not going to charge people criminally for what they thought was a consensual act between adults," said Duggan, who added that the operation appeared to unfairly target gays.

"We do not send female officers into sports bars to come on to guys to see which ones respond and then arrest them," he said. "We should not be sending undercover decoys into homosexual-act areas to do exactly the same thing."

Duggan referred to Halloran’s case during a news conference where he announced the department’s revised policies on cases alleging sexual misconduct in public places.

He acknowledged that his decision to not charge a high-profile person would raise eyebrows, but said he handled it as he has handled others.

Halloran could not be reached for comment. His attorney, John Allen, said, "The judge is pleased the prosecutor made the right decision."

The statewide gay rights organization Triangle Foundation applauded Duggan’s decision to clarify his office’s policies.

"We’d been pursuing this for several years," said executive director Jeffrey Montgomery. "This is an example of what happens when police activities are allowed to run unchecked. We’ve been working with hundreds of clients in the same situation as this judge."

The incident prompted the Wayne County Airport Police to change the way they police bathrooms, airport spokesman Michael Conway said.

"If the person that was arrested somehow feels the behavior was being invited, that would weaken the case," Conway said. "We are changing our procedures so that when we arrest somebody it would be more likely to be prosecutable."

Airport police began monitoring that bathroom after receiving complaints of unwanted solicitations, Conway said.

"This is a public restroom that’s kind of out of the way but is still accessible to children and everybody else," Conway said. "We wanted to stop this behavior."

You can reach Margarita Bauza at (313) 222-2069 or mbauza@detnews.com.

Case Triggers a Revamp of the Wayne County Illicit Sex Prosecution Guidelines
Detroit Free Press, August 7, 2001

By Jack Kresnak

Saying police should not use undercover decoys to investigate consensual sex by adults, Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Duggan announced Monday that he will not charge a circuit judge arrested last month on suspicion of exposing himself in a rest room at Metro Airport.

"We are not going to charge and prosecute consenting adults," Duggan said in unveiling the new guidelines his office will use in cases of alleged illicit sex.

The judge, Richard B. Halloran Jr., 53, has been on a 30-day paid leave from his Wayne County Circuit Court job. He could not be reached Monday for comment. His lawyer, John M. Allen, said the judge was pleased with Duggan’s decision and plans to return to work.

The judge was not charged because he was not offering money and the expected sexual act was seen as consensual because of the undercover officer’s response, officials said.

Duggan would not discuss details of the Halloran case. The only witness against Halloran apparently was an undercover police officer. Duggan said there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Duggan said his office had been reviewing its policies on sexual misconduct in public places for about a month, after Assistant Detroit Police Chief Marvin Winkler raised concerns about methods his officers were using to curb illicit sexual activity at Rouge Park. Duggan said the Halloran arrest prompted him to announce the policies about a week earlier than planned.

Gay activists have complained about police stings at Rouge Park, saying men had been charged with soliciting sex from undercover police when they had done nothing but flirt or walk away.

Some were charged with being an "annoying person," a misdemeanor under a 1964 ordinance meant to deter obnoxious behavior, such as swearing or harassment.

Some men had their cars impounded, a practice used when drivers try to solicit police prostitution decoys. The cars may be reclaimed after the owner pays a fee of at least $900.

Jeff Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation, a Detroit-based gay advocacy organization, praised Duggan’s new policies.

"These policies are a significant, positive step in the right direction and a vindication of the long-standing struggle of the Triangle Foundation to correct the practices of law enforcement," Montgomery said.

On July 6, Triangle brought the issue of Detroit police targeting gay men in Rouge Park to the Detroit City Council.

The group said that about 500 people had been ticketed since February.

Duggan’s new policies specify that charges be filed:

When someone offers money for sex, whether to a citizen or an undercover cop.

When a sexual act is performed in a public place — such as parks, freeway rest stops or airport rest rooms — where it is likely to be witnessed by someone else.

When any sex act is done in public or in the presence of a police officer.

Duggan said vehicle seizures and criminal charges will not be pursued if police decoys lead the suspect to believe that the sexual act is invited and consensual.

Open cases involving misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct, indecent exposure, disturbing the peace or being an annoying person will be reviewed in light of the new policies, Duggan spokeswoman Ruth Carter said later.

Carter said cars will be returned if warranted. She said men who had paid a fine to get their cars back may be due refunds.

Michigan State Police Lt. Lynne Huggins, commander of the Metro South Post in Wayne County, said her department will change the way it investigates illicit sex at freeway rest stops in light of Duggan’s policy change.

"Normally, we would send male officers in street clothes into the rest area, and if they were approached for sex, they would then make an arrest," Huggins said.

But under the new policies, "If my plainclothes officers were approached and seemed willing to comply with the person’s request, then, no, we would not be able to seek charges. If my undercover officer is approached and, say, someone exposes themselves or goes beyond saying, ‘Hey, you’re cute,’ then we would still be able to get charges."

John O’Brien, Oakland County’s chief assistant prosecutor, said his office does not have a formal policy regarding undercover police investigations of illicit sexual activity. He said 34 people had been charged with gross indecency between males, a felony, in 2000 and 2001.

"The critical line is when does a discussion about a future act in private become criminal and when does the conduct begin that makes it criminal," O’Brien said.

Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga called Duggan’s guidelines sound. Marlinga said he could not remember any cases involving undercover officers being used to investigate consensual sex in public places. A problem with men having sex in a men’s room at a mall was solved by making arrests based on surveillance methods instead of undercover decoys.

Contact Jack Kresnak at 313-223-4544, or kresnak@freepress.com.

ENGLER APPOINTS HALLORAN TO THE 3RD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
Governor John Engler today announced the appointment of Richard B. Halloran, Jr., to the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County. Halloran will be filling the vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Michael J. Talbot to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

"Richard Halloran's experience as a magistrate and judge of the 36th District Court has prepared him well for the challenge of serving on the Wayne Circuit Court. He has been a leader in the fight against domestic violence, and his ability to address the needs of families will be a valuable addition to this important court," Engler said.

Halloran, of Detroit, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, in 1970, and his Juris Doctor degree in 1975 from the University of Detroit School of Law. Upon receiving his law degree, Halloran became an attorney for the Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers and later became a 36th District Court magistrate. In 1994 Halloran was appointed to the 36th Judicial District Court and in 1998 became an Administrative Law Judge for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. He currently is a board member of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board and serves on the State Task Force on Batterer Intervention Standards. He previously served as Chair of the Wayne County Coordinating Council to Prevent Domestic Violence. Halloran is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Bar Association of the Eastern District of Michigan.

The gubernatorial appointment extends through January 1, 1999. Halloran will have to run for election in November 1998 in order to serve the balance of the term, which expires December 31, 2000.

Florida Rep. Just 'Playing Along' In Sex Sting
(CBS) TITUSVILLE, Fla. State Representative Bob Allen told police he was intimidated and just playing along when an undercover officer suggested the lawmaker give him $20 and oral sex in a public restroom.

That's according to a taped statement and other documents released in the case Thursday.

The Republican lawmaker has repeatedly declared his innocence.

In the tape-recorded conversation with police after his arrest, Allen indicates he was scared when approached in the Veterans Memorial Park men's room. He said --quote-- "This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park."

Allen was charged with solicitation for prostitution.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Larry Craig's real problems began when he decided it was politically "wise" to combine conservative Christian so-called family values with burning the skin off of Iraqi Children for a few oil dollars more.

I find it hard to feel sorry for him, regardless of how guilty or innocent he may pretend to be.