The Republican Party candidate in the US Presidential election, George W Bush, has admitted that he was arrested in 1976 for drunken driving in the State of Maine. Governor Bush, aged 30 at the time, was fined $150 and had his state driving licence suspended. A local television station in Maine broke the story last night.
Mr Bush, who was campaigning in Wisconsin, confirmed that the report was accurate but he questioned its timing - four days before the election. He defended his decision to keep his arrest secret by saying that he had not wanted to talk about the matter in front of his daughters. Bush said he had not told people about the arrest because it was a "mistake" that set a bad example.
The presidential hopeful said that he occasionally drank too much and that he did so on the night in question. He said that he had learned his lesson. Mr Bush was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, just blocks from his family's summer estate and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty and paid the fine. His license was suspended for a short period in the state of Maine. His driving privileges were later reinstated.
Mr Bush said that he was not proud of it, adding he made some mistakes years ago. He said that he thought it was "interesting" that the report came out days before US voters go to the polls. Mr Bush’s lead in the opinion polls is slim enough to remain within the margin of error, leaving the two candidates neck and neck. Vice President Al Gore's campaign insisted that it had nothing to do with the report.
