Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty; Gregg DeGuire/Getty
PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Friday he was shocked and dismayed at the charges againstNew England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a longtime friend, overallegations Kraft solicited sex from prostitutes in Florida(which he denies).
Trump was asked about the case while at the White House to meet with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping.
According to pool reports, Trump said, “Well it’s very sad, I was very surprised to see it.”
“[Kraft] proclaimed his innocence totally, but I’m very surprised to see it,” Trump said.
The two men have been “friends for years,” Kraft’s son Joshtold theBoston Globein 2017. (Trumphas been similarly close toPatriots star quarterbackTom Brady.)
Josh explained then: “The worst time in my dad’s life” — the death of Kraft’s wife Myra in 2011 — “this guy was there for him.” According to theGlobe, Trump frequently called Kraft and traveled to Massachusetts to visit.
“Friendship trumps politics, for lack of a better term,” Josh said. “You might not agree with what your friend believes, but why let that ruin a friendship?”
Kraft, 77, has continued to be a visible Trump supporter, even joining the president at the White House. Per theGlobe, his team also had a special Super Bowl ringmade for Trumpwith Trump’s name on it.
The Trumps and Krafts in February 2011.
On Friday, Florida police said Kraft is being charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution in connection with a human trafficking sting tied to a chain of local massage parlors.
Investigators said they allegedly had evidence Kraft had been driven to a storefront spa in Jupiter and employees performed sex acts on him on at least two occasions.
The spa came under law enforcement scrutiny last October, with police conducting visual surveillance that found a solely male clientele entering and exiting with most customers inside for less than an hour,reports WCVB.
The National Football League said in its own statement that the league “is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments.”
Asked to comment on Kraft’s suspected involvement, he said, “We are as deeply stunned as anyone else.”
source: people.com
