# FBI investigates skinny-dipper in foreign country! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079 "2012-08-20T18:02:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/21 "2012-08-20T20:59:28Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > The guy’s got a penis - BFD. That has not been proven. I’ve yet to see the long form… and neither has his wife. _Badum tish!_ ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/22 "2012-08-20T21:10:12Z")
If you can sully the Sea of Galilee by skinny-dipping… well, let’s just say that I’ve done worse than just \*swim \*naked in it. And not at night, either. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/23 "2012-08-20T21:12:43Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > No, but then again, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ didn’t perform some incredible miracle at my local K Mart’s shoe aisle. If he did, it would be pretty crass of me to stroll down it with my dong hanging out. Because Jesus always wore a Speedo when he was bathing or swimming? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/24 "2012-08-20T21:14:05Z")
You mean that wasn’t a snickers bar I saw on the bottom? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/25 "2012-08-20T21:16:41Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Thanks to some crappy journalism, neither of the linked articles explain why the FBI conducted interviews. Anyone care to take a stab at what possible “crime” might have been committed? There was probably no suggestion of a crime, so much as a fear that there could be blackmail associated with it afterwards. At least two Congressional daughters, and some unknown number of Congressional wives–and, perhaps, aides–were present, so finding out whether something was going to be noised about linking the incident to a sex scandal probably prompted the request for the FBI to look into it. From the (second?) linked story, it appears that the FBI conducted a couple of casual interviews and walked away from the non-event. (Of course, it won’t be a non-event in the next Republican primary, but that is their own tough luck.) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/26 "2012-08-20T21:51:38Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > As far as I can tell the outrage isn’t (yet) coming from the Democrats. It’s coming from his fellow Republicans because of the potential embarrassment to their party. In fact, the first I heard of this episode was a report on a local news radio station that Cantor had called in everyone who had gone on that junket to essentially rip them a new one for letting this incident happen (Cantor himself was on that trip but apparently did not attend that side dip in the Galilee). > > Let’s see now, the trip was funded by the American Israeli Education Foundation (no problem there)… > > “Alcohol was involved” - OK, a bit of a problem there… > > And a freshman Congressman goes skinny-dipping in what many Israelis consider a holy site, violating Israeli law while on a junket in Israel paid for by an Israeli group. OK, Major Problems there, and an embarrassing episode for both the United States and the Republican Party. In retrospect, I can see why Cantor chewed out his fellow Republicans for not stopping that idiot. Far better to be the first one to beat up on the participants than have someone else do it and be put in the embarrassing position of trying to explain how it happened. Also, and I pointed this out in a thread on this topic in Elections, there’s the Ugly American factor. It’s bad enough when idiot American tourists visit a country and thoughtlessly act in manner that’s boorish and disrespectful to the people who live there. It’s even worse when the idiot American tourist is also a congressman who’s supposed to be representing our government. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/27 "2012-08-20T21:57:31Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > A group of Republican members of Congress, with family and staff members, took a trip to Israel, not at taxpayer expense. Then who paid? I am dubious that the staff members just up and decided to spend their own money to go to Israel just hang around with their bosses and their bosses families. It’s possible, but it pegs my BS meter a bit. My personal thought at this time is that it was sponsored by some Israeli lobbyists as a “fact finding expedition.” I’m also wondering about the FBI investigation and the fact that Cantor took them all aside to yell at them. If one guy forgets his bathing suit I don’t see the logic in callling them all in for a dressing down. I’d bet that something more happened, and the FBI investigation is about an ethics violation of some sort, like maybe they were handed envelopes of “spending money for the family” or something. Regards. -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/28 "2012-08-20T22:05:26Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > A group of Republican members of Congress, with family and staff members, took a trip to Israel, not at taxpayer expense. Then who paid? I am dubious that the staff members just up and decided to spend their own money to go to Israel just hang around with their bosses and their bosses families. It’s possible, but it pegs my BS meter a bit. My personal thought at this time is that it was sponsored by some Israeli lobbyists as a “fact finding expedition.” Yep, turns out that was the case (more or less). Kinda iffy on that, if Obama did anything similar the right would be absolutely out of control with rage and accusations of influence peddling. I’m also wondering about the FBI investigation and the fact that Cantor took them all aside to yell at them. If one guy forgets his bathing suit I don’t see the logic in callling them all in for a dressing down. I’d bet that something more happened, and the FBI investigation is about an ethics violation of some sort, like maybe they were handed envelopes of “spending money for the family” or something. > [@sevenwood](#): > > According to the second article referenced in the OP, the FBI got involved because of “concerns among American law enforcement officials that compromising behaviour might have occurred” and have decided not to proceed beyond their initial investigation. Sounds like a report from Bureau of Diplomatic Security (BDS) personnel. The bodyguards witnessed some behavior they thought iffy, and reported it. FBI decided not to pursue it, probably because of the difficulty in prosecuting an iffy case that occurred in another country. Regards. -Bouncer- PS: sorry, but I ran out of time to edit. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/29 "2012-08-20T22:26:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You mean that wasn’t a snickers bar I saw on the bottom? :eek: That’s not exactly what I was referring to. Let’s just say that there was another person involved. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/30 "2012-08-20T22:51:47Z")
**Bouncer** wins the thread. Apparently, the FBI wasn’t investigating the skinny dipping; it just happened to come up while they were investigating exactly w[here the funds for the trip came from](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/fbi_probing_rep_michael_grimm_not_skinny-dipping.php?ref=fpnewsfeed). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/31 "2012-08-20T23:13:45Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Because Jesus always wore a Speedo when he was bathing or swimming? I think he just wore sandals. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/32 "2012-08-21T00:10:12Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > “Alcohol was involved” - OK, a bit of a problem there… More than just a bit, IMHO they deserve more criticism just for mixing alcohol and swimming. [http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html](http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html) > [@](#): > > Alcohol Use: Among adolescents and adults, alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation, almost a quarter of ED visits for drowning, and about one in five reported boating deaths.2,14,16 Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment, and its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.16 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/33 "2012-08-21T00:28:22Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > And a freshman Congressman goes skinny-dipping in what many Israelis consider a holy site, violating Israeli law while on a junket in Israel paid for by an Israeli group. OK, Major Problems there, and an embarrassing episode for both the United States and the Republican Party. In retrospect, I can see why Cantor chewed out his fellow Republicans for not stopping that idiot. Far better to be the first one to beat up on the participants than have someone else do it and be put in the embarrassing position of trying to explain how it happened. Why would Israelis consider it a holy site? . Most Jews don’t believe Jesus walked on water, I’m guessing. Holy for tourism, perhaps Hard to imagine busloads of Christians from USA stopping by to see the place where Yoder splashed about naked. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/34 "2012-08-21T00:42:43Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > Then who paid? I am dubious that the staff members just up and decided to spend their own money to go to Israel just hang around with their bosses and their bosses families. See Post #12, by **Rune** ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/35 "2012-08-21T01:35:31Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think he just wore sandals. On his penis? Hang on… Okay, I can get one sandal on my penis, but two? Jesus was THE MAN! Also, sandals don’t really do anything to cover up a penis. In fact, seems like kind of a silly way to wear them, really. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/36 "2012-08-21T02:01:05Z")
IIRC, Adam and Eve covered their nakedness before God out of shame for their sin, not because their naked bodies weren’t holy in and of themselves. The Sea of Galilee is not somehow automatically defiled by the (naked) body that God created, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/37 "2012-08-21T02:05:46Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > The Sea of Galilee is not somehow automatically defiled by the (naked) body that God created, IMHO. We’ll alert the people of Israel of your opinion. I’m confident it will change their minds as to the congressman’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/38 "2012-08-21T02:19:07Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > No, but then again, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ didn’t perform some incredible miracle at my local K Mart’s shoe aisle. If he did, it would be pretty crass of me to stroll down it with my dong hanging out. Why? What’s sacriligious about a penis? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/39 "2012-08-21T03:11:35Z")
Pfft. When our MPs go skinny dipping, we don’t send in the RCMP, [we put it on national TV.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1blymg20dw&feature=player_detailpage#t=13s) ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079/40 "2012-08-21T03:51:18Z")
Seems the issue is not really about skinny dipping. Okay, the Israeli junket was paid for not by taxes, nor by the congressmen, but by an Israeli organization called the American Israeli Education Foundation. The trip included up to 60 congressmen, family members, staff and security personnel. Rough cost at 10000 per person for the trip. Since doing so directly is illegal, the Israeli lobbyists formed some other 501©(3) type corporation to pay for the trip. It’s a loophole. Anyways… The FBI took minor note at the time because the diplomatic security personnel saw behavior that they are required to report, what this behavior is we don’t know. Note that according to the Israeli police, it is actually illegal to swim nude in the Sea of Galilee. Maybe there was a sign posted to that effect. In any case, the FBI sardonically notes themselves that “skinny dipping” is outside their law enforcement purview. Cantor dressed down the congressmen rather seriously, so whatever did happen, it was more than one person forgetting their bathing suit. It had to have been something that Cantor thought could embarrass the party, or cause an FBI probe. I suspect the diplomatic security people had a word with him after the local Israeli po-po had a word with the detail lead. One of the things the FBI was interested in was one of the congressmen (Michael Grimm). He apparently also took a trip to Cyprus courtesy of the Cyprus Federation of America after the Israeli trip, but did not report (as required by federal law) that trip until the President of CFA got busted for various federal bribery felonies. Which is what started the FBI looking more seriously at the previous trips he had taken (and who else was involved both on the lobbyist side and on the legislators side), during that looking around, they find out again (probably by finally reading the diplomatic security incident reports), that some other republican likes to do the skinny dipping. Now the republican leadership wants to control this. Cantor et al don’t need a big brouhaha about corruption, possible bribes, influence peddling and half-million dollar junkets paid for by lobbyists a few months before the election. So they push the idea that it’s all about some skinny dipping and “ha-ha-ha those freshmen congressmen, boy howdy.” So now maybe the marching orders were to sell the skinny dipping and officially the response is “FBI? Corruption investigation? I have no idea what you’re talking about, no I got a little tipsy and, umm, took a dip au naturael. Oops, I’m sorry…” /shrug That last part is pure conjecture on my part. Really the last two paragraphs. The stuff before it is pretty solid though. Regards, -Bouncer- [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-investigates-skinny-dipper-in-foreign-country/632079.md?page=3)