The leader of America’s influential National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal supporter of George Bush and opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned last night after being accused of paying for sex with a man.
The Rev Ted Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-strong New Life Church while a panel investigates the allegation, made by a 49-year old man. “I cannot continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations,” Mr Haggard said. “I never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I’m steady with my wife, I’m faithful to my wife,” the father of five added.
Mike Jones, a male escort from Denver, told the media that Mr Haggard had paid him to have sex nearly every month for three years. He