Republican Senator Arrested For DUI Last Year Is Attending A Fundraiser Hosted By A Liquor Company

Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who was arrested late last year for drunken driving, will be attending a fundraiser on Thursday hosted at a house owned by Diageo, the world's largest producer of liquor.

Crapo is a devout Mormon who claimed to abstain from alcohol, but pleaded guilty to driving under the influence earlier this year. He was arrested on Dec. 23 in Alexandria, Virginia after registering a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent.

Diageo owns Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Guinness and is the exclusive international distributor for Jose Cuervo and Crown Royal. It also owns 34 percent of Moët Hennessy.

The party — a March Madness Kick Off which benefits Freedom Fund — costs $1,000 per Political Action Committee attendee or as a "personal host," according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Sunlight Foundation.

(h/t) Eric Ming (@ericming5)

UPDATE:

Senator Crapo's office has responded. The event is hosted at a townhouse owned by the liquor conglomerate, not by the liquor conglomerate:

Crapo is holding a no-host fundraiser at a townhouse owned by Diageo. Diageo is not hosting the event. This is an annual event for Senator Crapo, and it has been held at this location previously. This is a convenient location with easy access to parking that has been used by the Senator and other Members, and we are paying for the use of the space.