Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.)

In the grand scheme of the Republican Party’s advocacy for traditional values, we’re unsure where skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee falls. That’s exactly what one Republican member of Congress did last summer during a fact-finding trip to Israel, reports Politico this morning:

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed, while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.

In a statement, Yoder admitted to the incident and apologized. “A year ago, my wife, Brooke, and I joined colleagues for dinner at the Sea of Galilee in Israel. After dinner I followed some Members of Congress in a spontaneous and very brief dive into the sea and regrettably I jumped into the water without a swimsuit. It is my greatest honor to represent the people of Kansas in Congress and [for] any embarrassment I have caused for my colleagues and constituents, I apologize.”

He wasn’t the only member of Congress to have waded into the waters, though—Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and his daughter; Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and his wife; Reps. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) also took a dip, though they didn’t follow Yoder’s lead and disrobe completely. The reasons for jumping have been varied: some said it was because of the lake’s religious significance, others because they wanted to cool off after a long day.

Oh yeah, and alcohol may have been a factor. Before the impromptu swim took place, the delegation of congressman and staff ate and drank at Decks, a popular restaurant located alongside the lake.

Politico reports that the FBI looked into the incident, but seems not to have found any wrongdoing. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was also on the trip, though he did not join in the late-night swim and was said to have rebuked up to 30 members of Congress for their actions the day after they happened.