Source: The Columbian
State Rep. Richard Curtis, R-La Center, caught up in a statewide media frenzy over an ongoing extortion investigation in Spokane, said Monday that he is not gay.

"I committed no crime," Curtis said Monday afternoon. "I did not solicit sex. I was trying to help somebody out."
Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department, said police expect to wrap up their investigation in the next one or two weeks and forward their findings to county prosecutors for a decision on whether criminal charges should be filed.

Curtis, 48, has been besieged by phone calls since news broke about the two-term lawmaker being the alleged victim of an extortion attempt.

The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported Monday that the alleged extortionist is a reputed male prostitute. DeRuwe would not confim that report and said that prostitution did not appear to be involved in the case.

A Spokane TV station, KREM, reported on its Web site that Curtis and the man had a sexual encounter and were seen together at various spots around the city.

Curtis was in the city  for a retreat with other Republican lawmakers to craft strategy for the upcoming legislative session.

Curtis talked briefly with Columbian Editor Lou Brancaccio at about 4 p.m. Monday and denied reports of a sexual relationship.

"I am not gay," he told Brancaccio. "I have not had sex with a guy."

Curtis said the case does involve an extortion attempt. He said he would release a statement Tuesday.

[Related: Reports: Spokane police investigate attempted extortion of lawmaker by man he allegedly had sex with ]