Stephenson said he has attended several seminars sponsored by Moon organizations — including one the same day as the dinner.

"They tend to be quality programs on issues important to legislators," he said. "They are not religious events, just seminars that tend to attract some big names and experts."

He said he merely attended the banquet because it was in conjunction with one of those seminars. But he figures prominently in videos of the event because he presented one award and sat up front near Moon.

Stephenson said he was asked to be a last-minute replacement to present an award about Native American peace and was moved from a back table to the front to make that easier. He said he doesn't remember what he said, although Internet reports said he apologized for U.S. misdeeds against Native Americans that led to a trail of tears.

He said when Moon talked "and things took a turn into religion," he became uncomfortable. He said he left after Moon's speech — and missed his "coronation" — because he did not want to imply that he endorsed any of that.

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