Larry Sinclair National Press Club Conference

- Appearance made June 18, 2008
- Read a prepared statement and took questions from reporters

Despite protests and an online petition against it, Minnesota resident Larry Sinclair made a scheduled appearance at the National Press Club, detailing the supposed drug-fueled sexual tryst he claims to have had with then-Illinois State Senator Barack Obama in 1999, when . After the conference, Sinclair—who was wanted in Colorado on theft and forgery charges—was presented with an arrest warrant by Washington DC police, handcuffed and taken into custody, according to reports.Politico: Sinclair arrested, and other notes from the Press Club
Appearance Paid For

According to Bill McCarren, the National Press Club's General Manager, Sinclair is a "customer" who paid to use the venue, and the Club offers no position on the veracity of his claims.Political Machine: Does Journalism Die Today?
Excerpts
On his reasons for not coming forward with the allegations sooner: "The whole issue was based on [Obama]'s drug use and his claim that he had not used drugs since his college days, and that was the whole issue that brought this forward."YouTube: Sen. Obama's Accuser Appears at National Press Club
Asked whether he is receiving money from anyone connected with the Republican Party:
- "I am not connected with any party... Nor are any parties contributing to the cost or the expense of this. Every penny that has gone into this press conference, my travel expenses, have come from average American citizens. Most of them, according to their own statements, are declared independents."YouTube: Sen. Obama's Accuser Appears at National Press Club
Asked whether he will identify "physical features" to prove his claims:
- "I will be identifying certain physical features, but I will not do so at this time."YouTube: Sen. Obama's Accuser Appears at National Press Club