Republican Congressman Skinny-Dipped in the Sea of Galilee
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The Sea of Galilee
Photo Credit: Phil Sussman/Flash90
A group of Republican lawmakers on a trip to Israel last year jumped into the Sea of Galilee for a late-night swim, during which one congressman swam naked.
The incident, which took place on August 18, 2011, was first reported on Sunday by Politico.
The late-night swim, which followed an evening of dinner and drinking in Tiberias, involved over 20 people, including families and staff members of the congressmen, according to Politico, citing unnamed sources.
Most swam in their clothes, or partially clothed, but Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) completely disrobed, according to the report.
The 36-year-old first-term Republican, in a statement to Politico, said: “A year ago, my wife, Brooke, and I joined colleagues for dinner at the Sea of Galilee in Israel. After dinner I followed some Members of Congress in a spontaneous and very brief dive into the sea and regrettably I jumped into the water without a swimsuit.
“It is my greatest honor to represent the people of Kansas in Congress and [for] any embarrassment I have caused for my colleagues and constituents, I apologize.”
In comments to the Kansas City Star, Yoder added that it was dark when the group went for the swim and he was only in the water for about 10 seconds.
The other congressmen who went into the lake, according to the unnamed GOP sources in the Politico article, were Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and his daughter; Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and his wife; and Reps. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.).
Some of the congressmen said they entered the lake because of its religious significance; others said they were cooling off and that alcohol may have contributed to their decision to jump in.
The Sea of Galilee has religious significance in Christianity, as it is where Jesus is said to have walked on water.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the most senior GOP lawmaker on the Israel trip, did not take part in the late-night swim. According to Politico, Cantor censured the 30 lawmakers the morning after the incident, saying they were distracting from the mission of the trip. A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R – Ohio), told Politico that Cantor “handled the situation swiftly and appropriately.”
The FBI investigated whether any inappropriate behavior occurred, but no formal allegations of wrongdoing were leveled. Yoder’s chief of staff told Politico that “neither Congressman Yoder, nor his staff, have been interviewed by the FBI.”
Yoder is running unopposed for re-election in Kansas’ 3rd District.
JTA content was used in this report.
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The only reason Obama hasn't visited is because they might realize he actually *can't* walk on water.
He can't be fair, he's a Jew who is a repub!
I forgive you.
There are worse problems in this world.
"…others said they were cooling off…" we're talking about sweat here. FYI, persperation has the same properties as urine. The Sea of Galilee aka the Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias supplies drinking water to one third of Israel; so, all of those who interred the water are guilty of polluting public waters and should be fined.
FYI, nearby is the Eshkol Water Filtration Plant which is the fourth largest water filtering plant in the world. It filters and cleans the water from the Kinneret before it reaches your house. Thank G-d for the Eshkol Water Filtration Plant.
Don't worry Kevin, you got my vote.
well at least he has one vote (assuming you live in his district otherwise you would be committing voter fraud) Even kevin is not going to vote for himself
Had Democrats done this it would be all over the internet.
I'm seeing this all over the internet.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/romney-and-ryan-condemn-congressman-who-went-for-skinny-dip-in-israel/
I do agree with one commenter that there are more important issues.
I do agree with one commenter that there are more important issues.
James Lapin – almost a year after it happened! If it were dems/progressives, it would hit the internet with in seconds and be on fox news within hours!
James Lapin – willard and ryan are anti Jewish and have NEVER done a single thing to help Jews or Israel!
Have you become anti skinny dipping?
Absopositively NOT. I am just against anti semetic sob repub/tea baggers fouling up Israel!
While it was a stuoid thing they did, I think only Yoder and cantor should be punished! Yoder should be on an Israeli watch list and never be allowed to vist. It may be harder to keep cantor out, but I would try. cantor is a terrible Jew and is the type of Jew who causes anti-semitism!