Mike Jones (personal trainer)
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Michael F. “Mike” Jones (born 7 May 1957, in Colorado) is an author, personal trainer and a former escort and masseur[1][2][3] who gained world wide notice when he went public with allegations that he had had a three-year affair with Ted Arthur Haggard, an American evangelical preacher and founder of the New Life Church.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Private life
Jones grew up in Edgewater, Colorado, a Denver suburb. His mother died a few years ago; his father is still alive. Jones says he was picked on in school and that made him take up bodybuilding. He currently lives in Denver, Colorado.
[edit] Involvement in Haggard sex scandal
Jones claimed to have had a three-year sexual relationship with Haggard, which ended in August 2006, and for which Haggard paid Jones. He first made the allegations on the Peter Boyles show on Denver radio station KHOW 630 AM.[4]
Jones claimed that upon discovering the real identity of the man he knew as "Art" (Haggard's middle name is Arthur), and finding that Haggard was a major public figure in opposition of gay marriage, he "was compelled to come forward because he believes Haggard, an opponent of same-sex marriage, is being hypocritical."[5] On November 2, 2006, Mike Jones alleged that Haggard paid for sex with him during trysts that had been taking place on an almost monthly basis during the previous three years. Jones contends the relationship was strictly physical and not emotional. Jones also stated "[Haggard] had told me he loved snorting meth before [he] has sex with his wife" and that Haggard had also revealed a fantasy he had of having an orgy with "about six young college guys ranging from 18 to 22 in age."[6]
On November 3, 2006, Haggard resigned his leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals and temporarily stepped aside as pastor of his church as a result of the allegations. The group later announced that he had been fired. On November 5, 2006 Haggard stated that his removal was permanent.
On November 6, Ted Haggard confessed to his followers that he was guilty of "sexual immorality." He did so with a letter addressed to his congregation, read by another clergyman.[7] The letter also asked his followers to refrain from blaming Jones, and in fact thanked him for bringing his "problems" to light so he could get help. Jones, when interviewed by telephone, said he felt bad for Haggard during the tough times: "I wish him well. I wish his family well. My intent was never to destroy his family. My intent was to expose a hypocrite."[8]
On November 27, 2006, the website 365gay.com reported that the Denver Police Department still wanted to contact Jones for further questioning.[9]
Dan Savage and a number of gay-oriented bloggers have asked the gay community to help Mike Jones with his current legal difficulties and harassment by Haggard's followers. [2] [3] [4] However, he has also been criticized for violating the confidentiality of an escort/client relationship. [5] Jones's response to the critics was:
[T]his was unique ... someone who is spewing hatred; who’s spewing discrimination; who’s touching millions of people's lives by his verbal content. And you know what? It couldn’t continue. And I’m sorry that some people feel that way, but I can’t change that. I had to do it.[10]
[edit] Involvement in Larry Craig sex scandal
On October 5, 2007, it was made known that Jones, during the filming of a radio interview, made allegations of having had at least one prior promiscuous encounter with U.S. Senator Larry Craig. "I've been with many politicians and all I can tell you is, for a fact, that Larry Craig is a hypocrite."[11]
In December 2007, eight gay men came forward alleging either sexual encounters with Craig, or attempts by Craig to engage in sexual encounters, to the Idaho Statesman newspaper.[12][13] Four of the eight men gave graphic, recorded details of their alleged sexual encounters to the Idaho Statesman which the newspaper in turn published on their web site.[12] One of the four was Jones. Jones claims that Craig paid him $200 for a massage and oral sex. A Craig spokesman responded, "Mike Jones is lying in order to sell his book [about Ted Haggard] - plain and simple. Larry has never met Mike Jones."[12]
[edit] In the media
On December 11, 2006 Jones appeared on the Warner Bros. syndicated talk show, The Dr. Keith Ablow Show episode 1088.
On January, 29, 2007, Mike paid a visit to the New Life Church.[14]
On March 10, 2007, Jones listed the massage table upon which he and Ted Haggard had sex on eBay as "Ted Haggard Massage Table". By March 12, with six days to go, the bidding had reached $1250, but eBay removed the item from auction under pressure from religious group Transforming Congregations.[15]
[edit] Published work
- I Had to Say Something: The Art of Ted Haggard's Fall (Seven Stories Press, 2007), with Sam Gallegos. ISBN 1583227687
[edit] References
- ^ Rocky Mountain News, "Amid allegations, Haggard steps aside", November 2, 2006: stating that he is “49 years old”
- ^ Rocky Mountain News, "Jones get mixed reception", November 6, 2006 stating "...fourth-generation Coloradoan..."
- ^ ABC News, "Haggard admits buying Meth", November 3, 2006: citing Mike Jones as a "...former self-described male prostitute..."
- ^ Rocky Mountain News
- ^ Rocky Mountain News
- ^ ABC News, "Haggard admits buying Meth", November 3, 2006
- ^ Haggard, Ted. "Ted Haggard's letter to New Life Church", Colorado Springs Gazette, November 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
- ^ BBC News | World | Americas | US pastor admits sex 'immorality', November 5, 2006
- ^ "Police Investigate Haggard's Gay Whistleblower", Nov 27, 2006
- ^ [1]
- ^ Denver Channel News
- ^ a b c Popkey, Dan. "More gay men describe sexual encounters with U.S. Sen. Craig", Idaho Statesman, 2 December 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
- ^ Felling, Matthew. "Eight men out", CBS News, 4 December 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ USA Today Jan 29, 2007
- ^ TheDenverChannel.com, "Haggard Massage Table Pulled From eBay", March 20, 2007.
