Haggard Accuser Fails Poygraph

Mike Jones went on a Denver radio station and revealed that Pastor Ted Haggard of Colorado Springs had a sexual business relationship for the last three years. Jones, who calls himself an escort, says that Haggard paid him $200 per one-hour visit in cash. He says that the person he slept with called himself, “Art” and that he did not know whom it was until a few months ago when he was flipping through the channels.

This accusation has caused a media frenzy and Haggard to step down from his Church and as leader of the largest Evangelical group while it is being investigated. Haggard denies the charges, says he does not even know Mike Jones and believes it is a political move because Colorado is voting next week to decide if homosexuals should be allowed to marry. According to the Denver Post, Jones failed a Polygraph test, which he offered to take. His answers were found to be, “Deceptive.”

Who is Mike Jones? Where did he come from? He claims to have voice mails and some envelopes that can prove his assertions, but refuses to give them over. He claims he came out because Haggard’s church is against same sex marriage. He also claims he is no longer an escort, though he last met Haggard in August.

Jones told 9 News, "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,"

Is Mike Jones just a political stunt or can he be taken seriously? If he committed a crime, which by revealing Haggard as a client, he has, then why is he not under arrest? How is it that he can admit to crimes, but not be charged with it?

Colorado news outlets are moving cautiously with this story, because many feel there is more to it than is being revealed. Some are not so sure about the credibility of an escort, the election timing, and just the story itself.

Friends are rallying behind Haggard and have proclaimed that they know him and this accusation is far from the man they know.

If this turns out to be a lie, then what? People love to believe lies that are juicy. Haggard will have lost his reputation on the word of a confessed criminal.