4um: Conservative Lawmaker: "I have not had sex with a guy"

mustache rides all around Washington (state) is abuzz this week with rumors that state Rep. Richard Curtis is involved in an extortion ring with a “reputed” male prostitute — in other words, Did he fuck a dude? Curtis is obviously a Republican with a socially conservative voting record, so allegations like these were sure to come out sometime. As was his predictable response: “I am not gay… I have not had sex with a guy.” Sure, but… DOES HE LIE?

Spokane, Washington’s Spokesman Review is all up in this, and reported the initial story Monday:

Details surrounding the case remained sketchy Sunday, but authorities confirmed that it involves two-term state Rep. Richard Curtis, a Republican from the small southwest Washington town of La Center, and that there was some type of confrontation last week at Davenport Tower. The identity of the alleged extortionist was unavailable, though police confirm he is a reputed prostitute.

Hmm. The leap between a “confrontation” with a male prostitute and an alleged “fuck” with a male prostitute still seems a bit hazy. We’ll play along though, since at the very least a history of intimate hand-holding appears to be involved:

A Spokane TV station, KREM, reported on its Web site that investigators said Curtis and the man had a sexual encounter and were seen together at various spots around the city.

The local police are being very fair and objective with the media — one department spokesperson noted that “Obviously there is some sort of relationship between the two of them.”

That’s all we needed to hear. Gay!

Alleged extortion of legislator probed [Spokesman Review]
Curtis denies sexual encounter [The Columbian]

Washington State Rep. In Blackmail Bid By Gay Hustler
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Spokane, Washington) Details are beginning to emerge about an alleged blackmail attempt against a married Washington state representative.

Police unsealed a search warrant Tuesday, making it available for the first time to the media, showing that Rep. Richard Curtis (R) went to police alleging he was being blackmailed by a man he had picked up for sex.

The warrant says that Curtis met the man at a Spokane adult video store and brought him back to his hotel for sex, KXLY-television reported Tuesday.

The station said that warrant says that following sex with the man Curtis fell asleep.

The warrant claims that later the man contacted Curtis and said he would return the wallet for $1000.

Curtis claimed he had only $200 and left the money in an envelope at the front desk of the hotel for the man to pick up.

The man is later alleged to have called Curtis again demanding an additional $800 or he would go to Curtis' wife.

Officers tell KXLY that Castagna claimed that Curtis had met him at the Hollywood Erotic Boutique and offered him $1,000 in exchange for sex.

Following sex, Castagna claims, Curtis told him he did not have the $1000 on him and gave his wallet as collateral.

When Curtis failed to pay up the following day, Castagna admits to threatening to expose Curtis to his wife.

What Castagna did not know was Curtis had contacted police following the first call by Castagna and a police officer was in the room when the second call came in.

The details Curtis provided to police and outlined in the warrant is in stark contrast to an interview he gave Monday to the Columbian newspaper in his home district.

The paper began to investigate Curtis as details of the alleged blackmail began to leak out.

"I did not solicit sex. I was trying to help somebody out," the conservative Republican lawmaker told the Columbian on Monday. "I am not gay. I have not had sex with a guy."

Curtis, 48, is a former Vancouver fire captain and La Center City Council member. He was elected to the state legislature in 2004 and re-elected in 2006.