Idaho's Republican Sen. Mike Crapo said Wednesday that he has not consumed alcohol since his arrestlast December near Washington, D.C.
Crapo was arrested in northern Virginia on December 23, 2012 after he was pulled over for running a red light. A test showed Crapo’s blood alcohol content was .11, an amount above the legal limit.
Crapo pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January. At the time, he said he was quitting alcohol for good. Crapo apologized and said he had used alcohol for about a year as a means of dealing with work-related stress.
“I have not, since the incident, had anything to drink,” he said. “In fact, I’ve been walking and exercising more.”
Crapo says his health has gotten “better and stronger” in the year since his arrest.
In a conference call with reporters, Crapo didn’t disclose how his arrest affected his standing with the Mormon church, which forbids alcohol consumption. Crapo was a bishop by the age of 31. He called it “a personal matter” but added “I am working with my church and will continue to do so.”
Crapo said the process of quitting alcohol has not been difficult.
Copyright 2013 Boise State Public Radio