Denver Post: Haggard's accuser fails lie detector

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4597552

Ted Haggard's accuser failed a polygraph test early this morning about the truthfulness of his accusations that he had had a three-year homosexual affair with the influential Colorado Springs minister.

The test was given to Michael Jones, 49, an admitted male prostitute, who made the allegations on the Peter Boyles Show on radio station KHOW Thursday morning.

<snip>

The test administrator, John Kresnik, said Jones' score indicated "deceptions" in his answers. However, Kresnik said he doubted the accuracy of the test he administered because of the recent stress on Jones and his inability to eat or sleep, according to KHOW producer Greg Hollenback.

Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week after he was rested.


Mike Jones, photographed in downtown Denver on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006.

Denver Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5115625,00.html

A former male prostitute who accused Colorado Springs pastor Ted Haggard of engaging in gay sex over the course of three years failed a polygraph test administered Friday morning in Denver.

The polygrapher, John Kresnik, said the results "indicated deception" but he also believed the results may have been skewed because the accuser, Mike Jones, was suffering from a migraine and didn’t get much sleep.

"I’m disappointed with myself," Jones said on Peter Boyles’ morning talk show on KHOW radio after taking the 90-minute polygraph. "I feel like I’ve disappointed a lot of people. I initiated it and I’m willing to accept the consequences of it."

However, Jones said he "would not back down" from his original accusations. He also said — at the prompting of Kresnik — to take two more lie detector tests after he got some sleep. Jones said he only got two hours of sleep.

<snip>

Kresnik said he asked six questions on the polygraph test and there were two relevant questions — both involving sexual contact with Haggard. Kresnik said those were the ones Jones failed.

[Atman]

1. "Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week..." Here we go.

They're getting the "He failed a lie detector test!" story out there to fester and stew and become fodder for the talk shows as all the republican talking heads rehearse Karl's blast-fax..."He failed a lie detector test! IF HE'S A DEMOCRAT OPERATIVE, it only shows what despicable, desperate, terrorist-loving, God-hating losers those democrats are!" all the way up until the day after the election, when it will be proved he's 100% telling the truth.

Buckle up, kids. SURPRISE!

.

[Dhalgren]

5. I would bet that nobody is going to touch this one. For one thing

a lot of the "insiders" probably know that it is true. Also, this whole thing only creates a big road-sign pointing to Foley creeping on underage boys. This has all the potential of blowing up, big time, in anyone's face who defends the "good" pastor. No, I think that the Repugnants will let this one lie...

[MISSDem]

16. Haggard already admitted to some of it.

So what will they say to that?

[Demeter]

39. That Didn't Take Any Time at All, Did It?

Is your first instinct, when faced with a monumental moral crisis and potential felony, to grab the accuser and a polygraph machine?

After all, that's not admissible evidence, in most courts.

Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to gather hard data--documents, medical exams, corroborating witnessess? Is it that I'm much too focussed on Reality, here?

[Vinca]

2. If the good pastor didn't do anything, why did he resign his post?? nt

[RamboLiberal]

4. Oh something's there - he admitted it to overseers

but I bet they clam up now. We also have the almost certain voice id.

Let's just be careful with this story. We can speculate and have fun with it here but let's not end up looking like the Freepers when they get a bone.

I'd say it's probable on the drugs. The gay sex may be more iffy if the accuser has failed the lie detector. Be interesting to see if he passes next week or what other info comes out on this.

I don't want some good investigative reporters to dig in to this one and come up with the facts. I don't like the ilk of the fundies like Haggard but I also don't want to smear someone on the word of just one guy!

[Vinca]

8. The more important story is the nuke plans on the Internets.

In fact, it's kind of a shame the fundie wingnut scandal broke at the same time.

[RamboLiberal]

11. Agreed - also the story about the sneaky way they fired

the auditor for Iraq $$$$'s we're pouring in to that black hole.

I'm advising caution on running with this story till facts are proven. But I sure don't mind the doubt it plants in the Fundie Repuke voting community - who already should have a ton of doubt - on the weekend of the midterms.

[Irreverend IX]

38. But then why would he be buying from this guy in a hotel room?

Why would he decide to buy meth from a gay hooker when there are probably many more convenient sources, and why would he book a hotel room to do it? The only sensible explanation was that he purchased the meth to enhance his sex with the hooker; any other story gets cut down by Occam's Razor. Haggard's current claim ("duh, I was curious so I bought the meth and threw it away") is too silly to believe.

[Robbien]

3. The stress of coming out with this story must be overwhelming

Everyone knows the GOP attack machine is working overtime on this guy. Hopefully someone has him in a safehouse.

[truthisfreedom]

6. meaningless. haggard already confessed. he's toast.

[KyndCulture]

7. Too bad so sad. Haggard already spilled it.

[RamboLiberal]

9. What did he spill?

We only have the email of one of the overseers. And he didn't specify. Just said some of the allegations Haggard admitted to.

As I said in a previous post - I'm not going to act like a Freeper and run with this all the way till I have more proof.

I'm just advising caution. I don't want us to look like morans like the Freepers.

[KyndCulture]

14. In the grand scheme of things, it's really irrelevant at this point anyway.

It's just another sex scandal for the heap. I don't imagine there are very many undecided sheeple. They have denial on their side, so true or not, they'll still tow the party horseshit.

JMO I'm not really thinking about Haggard right now.

[Ms. Clio]

10. polygraphs = voodoo

inadmissible in court.

[RamboLiberal]

12. Yeah but they are use in criminal investigations

And widely held as reliable by most of MSM and public.

[Kagemusha]

If it wasn't for the voicemails would this even be in the press?

No one's convincing me that this is out solely because of verbal claims by a lone individual without substantiation.

[Ms. Clio]

22. The fact that they are "widely held as reliable" fortunately cuts no ice with courts

Many things are incorrectly but "widely held as reliable by most of MSM and public."

[RamboLiberal]

24. My point is that this probably won't end up in court

but will play out in court of public opinion. And there failing a lie detector test is damning!

[Ms. Clio]

25. well, let's see how this all plays out

if there are drug charges (doubtful, although almost anybody else would probably face them), then indeed this could end up in a criminal court.

The court of public opinion will depend on far more than one polygraph, I think.

[badgerpup]

36. Polygraphs can be fiddled with...they don't read minds.

Saw one case where guy knew he was going to be polygraphed and he intended to lie, since the question was about statutory rape...rape being the operative word.

He tested the way his body reacted, and found out that if he _____________ (not going to print it here), he could fool the polygraph into reading his reactions as 'true'.

Think the book was "A Bright and Shining Lie"
It was about the Vietnam war...

[Megahurtz]

23. But they're still inadmissible in Criminal Court.

They are only used as a scare tactic.

[ShortnFiery]

33. They are NOT that reliable (30% error) ... only as reliable as the skill of the

tester. If the TESTER was say motivated to say, make the accuser as a liar ($$$), then, no harm, no foul.

Money and Power TALKS. :grr:

[Kagemusha]

13. There's a reason they don't accept lie detectors as court evidence

It tells you the questionee is stressed, not why.

[KyndCulture]

17. very true!

[0rganism]

19. which makes me wonder why he went polygraph in the first place

seems to me, the guy already had stuff like voice mails that probably would constitute acceptible evidence. maybe that stuff isn't solid enough on its own? he'd better have some corroborators, then, or it's gonna be dead dead dead.

and why, for goodness sake, did he go through with it if he had a migraine? heck, when I get a migraine, I can barely think, and having someone hook me up to a machine and ask me slightly varying questions over and over would make me curl up in a tiny squeaking ball of pain. seems like grounds to call it off.

[Kagemusha]

30. Someone paid him?

Or he got a case of the stupids?

[deadparrot]

15. We'll see what happens with the follow-up test.

I think it's pretty obvious that something did go on, otherwise Haggard wouldn't have resigned and admitted to "transgressions," but I'm not going to get ahead of myself here.

[RamboLiberal]

18. Exactly - I just say caution

Put the shoe on the other foot and imagine if someone we held in high esteem had the accusations thrown at them in same manner and Faux, Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc. were running wildly with it. And we've seen that scenario played out.

I just don't want to act like them - though I admit it's a lot of fun.

Haggard certainly isn't clean - but let's find out exactly how dirty he is.

[lumpy]

32. He has proved himself to be a liar by denying

he bought meth from Jones, never even heard of the guy. Now he has admitted that he bought meth and a massage from Jones. Jones says he has other evidence, so let the chips fall where they may.
The hypocrite should not be in anyone's pulpit thunping the Bible caling out other 'sinners'. His congregation consists mainly of young people who are influenced by this sinful man. What other sins has he concealed?

[devilgrrl]

20. Fine. Haggard's penis isn't as small as previously indicated.

BFD!

[brentspeak]

21. Remember Tom Cruise's gay prostitute accuser?

He later recanted his entire story. I advise caution before saying Haggard really did have a relationship with his accuser.

[Tempest]

26. Haggard admitted to buying meth from Jones

And even then, the amount paid far exceeded the going rate for meth.

He was buying more than drugs.

[RamboLiberal]

27. The he only went for a massage is damning

Unless Jones ia a legit massage therapist this is the admittance that does point to Haggard going for gay sex.

Man, Haggard is sure spinning. Guess next step for him is the rehab clinic!

[jobycom]

29. The rehab clinic, then to the media with his story about a molesting clergyman/parent

or something.

Right wingers always have to protray their sexuality as the result of some evil act. Hell, that's what they use Eve for, come to think of it. Wonder who Haggard's EVE will be.

[jobycom]

28. Oh, this is too funny. AFTER Haggard admits it, he fails the test! LOL

So if Haggard would have denied it--he must not have read page one of the Republican/conservative manual--just one more day, he'd be in the clear, and his accuser would be seen as a liar. Too damn funny! Haggard figured he would pass so he came clean before the test, and now his accuser fails the test.

Sadly, this probably means that Haggard has a shred more integrity than the average Republican, since he didn't think he could pull off a lie.

[0rganism]

31. That roaring sound you hear is YHWH laughing His ass off

GAWD: "Hey Ted..."
Ted: "What is it this time, God? Can't you see I'm busy here?"
GAWD: "...I just wanted to let you know..."
Ted: "yeah yeah, you're with me in good times and bad, blah blah blah."
GAWD: "...that YOUR TOTALLY FUCKED! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Historic NY]

34. Put Haggard on the "box" if he is so faithfull he will not object.....

then again he has a lot to hide.

[heliarc]

35. Haggard admitted to seeing a prostitute.

Might not have been this prostitute, but he saw a male prostitute for a "massage" and he bought methamphetamine and "threw it away"

I don't believe one word of this "massage" and "threw it away" nonsense. There is no way he would have admitted to this if at least most of it was true. Perhaps this Mike Jones was speaking for a friend who was afraid to divulge the information. Haggard resigned and admitted to seeing a prostitute... period. Case closed IMHO

[lumpy]

37. Haggard admitted to calling the man(Jones)

and the voice expert concluded the conversation was between Haggard and Jones. Haggard admitted buying meth and receiving a massage from Jones. Haggard never mentioned Jones' name but if you view the video of Haggard's admission the 'him' and 'he' references can be no one else than Jones. Sorry case isn't closed.

[melody]

40. Haggard's voice on Jones' voice mail kinda belies that lie detector test

And Haggard admitted that he went to Jones "for a massage", even though Jones doesn't give "massages" (well, of that variety). Makes one wonder why the lie detector test even being reported.

[NightOwwl]

41. Breaking on CNN: Haggard forced to leave church because of...

"sexually sinful conduct."

Isn't life grand.

[dkofos]

42. BFD Did Haggard take a polygraph test and pass it??

[IndianaGreen]

43. CNN breaking: Haggart is out as pastor, fired!

The overseers have accepted Haggard's resignation, effective immediately. CNN reports that the overseers said that there was a sexual relationship.

[hayu_lol]

44. One of the messages that were played on Bernie Ward's show last week

had to do with the purchase of meth. Bernie played it over the air. It wasn't about buying meth...it was about buying MORE meth...clearly indicating prior purchases. 'Haggard' Haggard is a user.

Perhaps he was molested by Dobson? Or Fatty Falwell?