(CNN) – Sen. Michael Crapo, arrested in December for driving drunk in Virginia, pleaded guilty Friday to the charges, which came with a $250 fine and a year-long suspension of his driver's license.
A 180-day jail sentence was suspended on condition of good behavior. Last week Crapo's spokesman said the Idaho Republican would not contest the charges.
Crapo was arrested at 12:45 a.m. ET on December 23 in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia after a police officer noticed his vehicle running a red light. Alexandria police said Crapo's blood alcohol level was .110 at the time of his arrest.
A second blood alcohol test taken at a detention center registered a different blood alcohol level, according to Crapo's spokesman Lindsay Nothern, but he was not certain why the levels differed.
Crapo has not spoken about the circumstances surrounding the incident, but said in a statement Friday he was "grateful to have this matter resolved and will follow through on the sentence imposed by the court."
"I sincerely regret the choice I made because tragic consequences can result from combining drinking and driving. I am grateful that no one was injured," Crapo continued. "I am profoundly sorry for the pain and embarrassment that I have brought to my family, to Idahoans, to my church, to my colleagues in the U.S. Senate and my staff, to anyone who has placed their trust in me."
He has represented Idaho in the Senate since 1999, and before that served in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years. Crapo was re-elected in 2010 with 71% of the vote and is a member of the Senate's "Gang of 8."
According to his official biography, Crapo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prohibits the use of alcohol among its members.
CNN's Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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I think there was a time when drunk driving, womanizing, soliciting sex in a public restroom, and other such scandals would force a person to resign from office. In some other culture, he might even fall on his sword or something similar. Now, they pay a slap-on-the-wrist fine and head back to work. Life is pretty good for rotten folks these days.
Will the Mormons at least impose some penalty on this guy for embarrassing them? Are there any adults in the federal government anymore, or are they all irresponsible children?
Put him in jail so that travellers travel safely!!! Uphold the law, respect me–for telling this truth.
This is BS...... if it was one of us regular people it would be costing us $3,000 – $10,000, 1 year suspension and in some states up to three years in Jail. What's with the 180-day jail sentence was suspended on condition of good behavior, what's he get the I'm a good Mormon discount. Lock him up that what he would have done to us if he was the Judge.
V_mag: Mormons are notorious for getting their folks off the hook in legal matters. I know of one instance in AZ where a women who stole a total of over 5000 pain killers (over the period of 2-3 years) from a dentist office and sold them on the street got community service.
Meanwhile, didn't the "diaper man" senator from Louisiana just get reelected in 2010? Strange folks you GOPers keep believing in and voting for.
Wow, hope this guy can get through such a harsh sentence! I think someone jaywalking would have a harsher penalty.
It's just ridiculous.
Crapo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prohibits the use of alcohol among its members.
-------------------------------------------------l
Look, there are things that the Catholic church frowns upon that Catholics turn a deaf ear to, but the difference with these flag-waving, country-hating, Bible-carrying, greedy domestic terrorists in office is their hypocritical holier-than-thou attitudes.
Crapo. What a freaking name to go through life with.
I guess Crapo crapped out.
Crapo got caught doing some crap.
Etc....!
LOL!
TAX CHURCHES NOW! As here, they are an endless fountain of manipulative hypocrisy. Why did this sanctimonious scuhmbag not do the 180 days?
They should of sentenced him to 180 days of doing the job he was elected for.
What I've never understood is why people go along with wrist-slap punishment for big wigs. People in important positions with lots of money should, in my way of thinking, be held to stricter standards than poor folks whose crimes are driven by lack of education, bad upbringing, poverty, ill health, and hunger. Instead, the rich mostly get off. Steal $100 from 7-11 and you'll go to jail for years. Steal millions from a lot of people and you do a little community service. You might not even have to pay all the money back.
Republicans used to pride themselves on being law-and-order folks. Why are they not calling for harsher penalties for rich people who commit crimes? Wouldn't it be great to see some rich baddies lose everything, like a poor criminal would?