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Allen T. Howe
Democrat, Utah (1975-1976)
Allen T. Howe, 48, father of four, was charged with misdemeanor charges of "soliciting sex acts for hire" after he allegedly propositioned a policewoman who was posing as a prostitute.
Howe insisted that he was a "victim of a setup or trap by vindictive and politically motivated people who wanted to sabotage my re-election or ruin me personally." (Click here for other examples of "Lyin' Through Their Teeth").
In July 1976, a four-person jury found Howe guilty of attempting to purchase sexual favors from two undercover policewomen. The judge gave Howe 30 days in jail, suspended upon the payment of a $150 fine
From the police report: Here's the transcript of the conversation between the undercover police officer (SHE) and Howe (HE):
HE: "Hi, honey, what are you doing?"
SHE: "Not much, what are you doing?"
HE: "Just looking for some fun."
SHE: "Like what?" [HE then describes what he's looking for]
SHE: "O.K. How much do you want to spend?"
HE: "It depends on what I get."
SHE: "Anything you want."
HE: "O.K. Sounds good."
SHE: "How much is it worth to you?"
HE: "I usually go about $20." (Twenty dollars??)
Undeterred, Howe said he'd seek another term in Congress. In Mormon Utah.
Howe also admitted that he had been ex-communicated by the Mormon Church twenty-five years earlier for getting a girl pregnant while he was on a religious training mission.
The Honorable Joe D., Waggoner, Jr. (Democrat-Louisiana, 1961-1979) had similar problems: he was arrested and released on charges of soliciting a police decoy posing as a prostitute.
Sources: Leslie Oelsner, "Rep. Howe Held on Sex Charge in Utah," New York Times, June 14, 1976; Suzanne Dean, "Howe to Seek Second Term Despite Odds," Washington Post, June 19, 1976; Suzanne Dean, "Jury Convicts Rep. Howe in Sex Solicitation Case," Washington Post, July 24, 1976; Sue Kirchhoff and Donna Cassata, "Long List of Its Own Trespasses Tempers Congress' Judgment, Congressional Quarterly, January 31, 1998.
