While most of the time a Senator would be looking for "Face Time" he would more than likely would not if trying to cover a lie told to the media. He had said that he threw someone else's medals over the fence, even if he was telling the truth and his got misplaced it would have not looked to good. Remember if this took place right before or soon after he was elected the first time he would not have been on a do not touch list for the media.