Trump wants Bob Kraft at White House despite despite prostitution sting

President Donald Trump has told White House aides that he wants New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who was at the center of a Florida prostitution sting just last month, to come to the Patriots' Super Bowl celebration at the White House.

"The situation's causing problems for those planning the event," writes Gabby Orr at Politico.

From Politico's story:

President Donald Trump wants Kraft to join his players at the White House this spring for a celebration of their January Super Bowl victory, a prospect that has White House aides worried that it could turn a feel-good photo-op into an embarrassing media spectacle.

Trump has told staffers he wants Kraft there when the reigning NFL champions visit this spring, according to a senior White House official, who said the president and Kraft had spoken since Kraft's arrest late last month.

The president's inclination to stand by his longtime friend is in keeping with his practice, while in office, of defending political allies and pals accused of wrongdoing, from former Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly in the wake of sexual harassment allegations ("I don't think Bill did anything wrong") to failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore following charges that he sexually harassed teenage girls ("He totally denies it").

"He's proclaimed his innocence totally," Trump tweeted of his longtime pal Kraft, who is said to have been videotaped by local authorities while engaging in paid sex acts earlier in 2019 at the now infamous Jupiter, Florida day spa.

"We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity," a Patriots spokesman said last month.

POLITICO: Trump wants Patriots owner Bob Kraft at White House despite prostitution bust

[PHOTO, file: President Donald Trump and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Joshua Roberts/Reuters]