Republican Congressman Ben Quayle is accused of swimming in a lake.
Politico published the story last night, claiming several Republican congressmen jumped in a lake last year in Israel during a trip funded by a pro-Israel lobbyist organization.
Congressman Kevin Yoder, of Kansas, hopped in naked. Quayle was in that exact same lake at some point that evening, thus tying him to the report, or something.
"...GOP sources confirmed the following freshmen lawmakers also went swimming that night: Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and his daughter; Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and his wife; Reps. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.). Many of the lawmakers who ventured into the lake said they did so because of the religious significance of the waters. Others said they were simply cooling off after a long day. Several privately admitted that alcohol may have played a role in why some of those present decided to jump in."
This apparently qualified as news because the FBI "probed" the swim, according to Politico's sources.
The Los Angeles Times says this morning that there is no FBI investigation.
Meanwhile, Quayle campaign spokeswoman Anna Haberlein confirms to New Times that the allegation is true -- Quayle went swimming. She adds that Quayle wasn't in the water at the same time as his nude colleague -- an incident she says Quayle wasn't even aware of.
Quayle's campaign also suspects Congressman David Schweikert -- Quayle's primary opponent, who was also on the Israel trip -- may have something to do with Politico's story.
"David Schweikert was very available to the media about this," Haberlein says. "This is not a coincidence."
Schweikert gave the Arizona Republic a statement last night, reading:
"I am disappointed but not surprised by Ben Quayle's behavior in Israel," Schweikert said. "Two years ago he embarrassed Arizona with his involvement in an adult website and now, as a congressman, he embarrasses both the institution of Congress and Arizona with his completely inappropriate behavior that calls into question yet again his fitness to be in Congress."
Speaking of that "adult website," TheDirty.com's Nik Richie has provided his two cents, saying, "Brock Landers is a good swimmer."
As for Politico, this is now the second time it has almost, sorta nailed Quayle on something.
