1/02/2006

Gay Escort: I Had 3-yr Affair with Christian Pastor Ted Haggard

Gay escort Mike Jones is claiming he had a three-year "sexual
business" relationship with prominent anti-gay evangelical Christian
pastor Ted Haggard, the head of a megachurch with ties to the White
House. Jones also told a radio show host that he has recorded
voicemails and a letter from Haggard, and claims that the preacher
used methamphetamine in his presence on several occasions.

According to 9news in Denver, with whom Jones spoke, "Haggard is the
founder and senior leader of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
The church has 14,000 members. He is also president of the National
Association of Evangelicals, an organization that represents millions
of people. Haggard is married with five children and an outspoken
critic of gay marriage."

Haggard also has ties to the White House and claims he has "direct
access" to George Bush, and can get the President to return his phone
calls within 24 hours.

Haggard responded to Jones' claims: "I did not have a homosexual
relationship with a man in Denver. I am steady with my wife. I'm
faithful to my wife. I don't know if this is election year politics or
if this has to do with the marriage amendment or what it is, but I'm
not even the guy who will investigate it or question it. I don't know
what the dynamics are, but this independent group will come in and do
that."

Jones said he felt he had to come forward and expose the hypocrisy:
"People may look at me and think what I've done is immoral, but I
think I had to do the moral thing in my mind and that is expose
someone who is preaching one thing and doing the opposite behind
everybody's back."