Jones On Craig

Here's a portion of the email Mike Jones sent me regarding his motivation for making it known that Sen. Larry Craig was his escorting client and how he feels about the reaction so far.

As far as trying to make money of these situations as I am being accused of, please consider this information:

I did not attempt blackmail on Ted Haggard. I actually could be on the Church payroll if I blackmailed him and still have my private life intact. Of course if I had done that, he still would be condemning gays and the evangelical voting block would still be as powerful as always and I would have money in the bank instead of the $500 I have now. Remember, Harpers magazine stated that no pastor held more political sway than Haggard.

Did I attempt to blackmail Craig? No. I could have though but I thought it was more important to keep him to his word of resigning instead of me making money. I had and have nothing to gain from this situation. I have learned that there are others that have had dealings with Craig. But they do not want to come forward. I seem to be the only one who has the guts to do it and tell the truth, for which I am condemned for.

Here is a detailed account of my situation regarding the Craig story. First I would like to thank the people that can really see what it is and supported me from Haggard to this. But mostly this is a response to the people who are so quick to judge. Here is a big piece of the story that people do not know and who are accusing me of riding the wave for attention.

First of all I did not have a long term situation with Craig. I only saw him one time. I did not know who he was until his recent story broke. When I saw him on the news, I said to myself, “I cannot believe this hypocrite, he came to see me.” There are a couple of things that made him stand out to me for me to remember like, “Do you follow politics Mike? Then when I said yes he quickly changed the subject. Right then I said to myself, this guy is a politician. Certainly not my first. But his question was a give away. Through sources that I gave for a time frame that I say he saw me, it was verified that he did travel to Colorado during that time. So you see, that was my verification to myself that that was him. You might say coincidence but really, I remember him and how would I guess the date from several years ago?

Several news organizations have had my story for six weeks at least. I was in constant communication with them. I told them I did not want my story out unless Craig reversed his promise to resign. The story would have probably run but I told them to hold off. And if I was doing it for publicity I would have run with it immediately. And by the way all the major news organizations wanted me on TV with this story. But did you see me on FOX or CNN regarding this? NO. I did not make this about me. I made it about being honest and holding people to their promises. Once again the word is hypocrisy. And remember which Senator voted against the Hate Crimes Bill! Sorry, I need to stand up and speak!

When we judge so quickly we in a sense are no better than the religious right. We hate it when they judge because of dislikes, but many people have done the same to me. If you dislike me because of jealously, or lack of information and knowledge, then I cannot change that. I am not perfect and have never claimed to be, but I, Mike Jones, have no regrets for who I am.

Incidentally, Mike Jones tells me he considers himself "set-up" by the Palm Springs radio station to whom he make his revelation, adding that the host of the show even left him a voicemail apologizing for the "Gotcha!" interview. Jones had not planned on making the story known that day.