Trump reportedly still wants Robert Kraft at the Patriots White House Super Bowl party despite Florida massage-parlor prostitution scandal
- President Donald Trump wants Robert Kraft to attend the New England Patriots Super Bowl party despite Florida massage-parlor prostitution scandal, according to a report.
- The New England Patriots owner was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution and paying for sex on February 22. He denies the charges.
- Trump and Kraft are old friends. Kraft attended the wedding of Trump's daughter Ivanka in 2009, and has been a guest at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
- The New England Patriots won the 2019 Super Bowl in February, and are expected to visit the White House to meet Trump this Spring.
President Donald Trump still wants New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the White House party to celebrate the team's Super Bowl win, despite the businessman facing criminal charges over soliciting prostitutes.
According to a senior White House official, Trump and Kraft have spoken since Kraft was charged with soliciting prostitutes in late February, Politico report, and the president wants him to be at the reception this spring regardless.
The 77-year-old CEO was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitutes on February 22, after a months-long investigation by Florida police into massage parlors allegedly tied to human trafficking.
Read more: Here are the major executives who were caught in the Florida massage parlor prostitution sting
Kraft was charged with paying for sexual services at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, and police say there is video evidence linking him to the allegations.
When the charges were first brought in February, a spokesperson for Kraft released the following statement: "We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further."
Florida police offered Kraft a plea deal on Tuesday, one which asked him to admit he would have been found guilty if the case went to trial. He reportedly will not accept it, according to CNN.
Trump has said the charges against his old friend are "very sad."
"I was very surprised to see it. He has proclaimed his innocence totally, and, uh, but I'm very surprised to see it," Trump said.
Kraft attended Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's wedding in 2009, and has visited the Mar-a-Lago resort as a guest of Trump.
The New England Patriots are expected to visit the White House to celebrate with the President sometime this Spring.
- Read more on the Robert Kraft case:
- Here are the major executives who were caught in Florida's massage parlor prostitution sting
- Everything to know about the Florida spa at the center of the Robert Kraft sex scandal
- How the sex trafficking ring allegedly solicited by Robert Kraft worked, according to investigators
- Bill Simmons says he was not surprised by the charges against Robert Kraft because the Patriots owner 'has been going off the rails for a while'