Re-Breaking News: Is Sen. Craig reconsidering?

Now, we know why Republican Sen. Larry Craig announced Saturday that it was his "intent" to resign from the Senate on Sept. 30.

According to the Associated Press, his spokesman in Boise, Sidney Smith, said this evening, "It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign."

This news will bring back nightmares to Republican Party and Senate leadership who thought their intense pressure on the Idaho senator last week had resulted in his resignation and an end to all the bathroom jokes about the senator's June arrest for lewd behavior in a Minneapolis airport men's room. Craig, who later pled guilty to disorderly conduct, maintained he was not gay and did nothing wrong, despite his plea.

Most Republican colleagues quickly distanced themselves from Craig. But over the weekend and today Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, a former prosecutor, suggested Craig fight the case. Specter said based on the evidence he'd heard without the guilty plea, Craig would have been convicted of nothing. "The more people take a look at the situation, there may well be second thoughts," said Specter.

Craig has hired a prominent Washington attorney to explore his legal options, including overturning his guilty plea. "We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30," Smith said, "but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight--and stay in the Senate."

"It was a little more cut and dried a few days ago," Smith added. "There weren't many options. He was basically going to have to step aside. Now, there's a little more to it."

A three-term Senate veteran, Craig would be up for re-election next year and, given strong local reaction to the arrest story last week, could face a tough political battle in an otherwise sure Republican state.

Additionally, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican, has remained conspicuously silent on naming a replacement yet for Craig since the official resignation remains 26 days away.

Update: Late this evening a Craig spokesman tells The Times' Richard Simon, "if the wheels of justice are able to turn quick enough, meaning before Sept. 30, he may--and I emphasize may--not resign." Simon's complete story appears here on this website and in Wednesday's print editions.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[thomas]

I love gays and hate republicans, but, if I was him, I would have just told everyone to bug off and waited until it blew over. I would rather have Craig in there that a genuinely straight arch-conservative republican. So what if he is a hypocite. Who isn't everyone now and then? Unfortunately for him, his whole existence is based on his hypocrisy.

[Mark]

I never vote for Republicans, but I say, "Fight it, Larry! Don't let this one little mistake ruin your life!"

If he had been hitting on a woman in an inappropriate manner, his colleagues would have looked the other way.

[Obie]

So he was flirting in a public restroom, what's the difference between flirting in a restroom and flirting in a bar? From all accounts it doesn't appear anything happened that couldn't happen anywhere else. Even if he tapped the guy's foot and waived his arm under the stall...since when are those indecent movements? Similar 'come hither' motions happen all the time in bars. This is much ado about nothing. I'd never vote for him or anyone in his party, but really, we need to get a grip and stop focusing on this petty nonsense.

[krw]

Craig seems too dumb to be a page much less a senator. I don't want such a nimrod in congress doing anything in my name. After watching this guy's on again, off again back flips I am seeing ever more clearly why things are so non-productive and bonehead empty in the once hallowed hall of the U.S. Senate. The place is full of certifiable doofusses.

[GBinHK]

He was caught asking another man in a men's room for sex, then told everyone he's not gay. He plead guilty to a criminal offence, then swore he is innocent. He announced to the world that he would vacate his US Senate seat at the end of the month, then says he's reconsidering. How proud the people of Idaho must be to have sent one of the greatest flip-floppers ever to Washington. Does this man stand for anything?

(To be fair, he announced his "intent" to resign and he pled guilty to a misdemeanor, not a felony.)

[WBB]

In his hypocrisy, Larry is the Craig is the poster child for 21st century Republicanism. He should stay in the Senate and let Idaho voters have an up-or-down choice next year.

[WilliamCinBrooklynNY]

I personally do not agree with most of Senator Craig's policy preferences. That is not the point!! I believe he should do the following:

1. Not Resign from the Senate
2. Clear his name if possible
3. Leave the Republican Party, which has so thoroughly rejected him.
I urge Senator Craig to consider the Libertarian Party or reregister as an Independent just like Joe Lieberman did.
If he is not able to stay in the Senate, then I believe that he should run for the seat as either Libertarian or Independent.

It is time for our political leaders to stand up to the bullying of the two party duopoly. We are all humans, with human frailties. Senator Craig may need psychological help. He should be able to get that help while still serving our country. Way too many people have been trashed by these two arrogant political parties for their own expediency. IT IS TIME FOR THIS NONSENSE TO STOP. Our country has far greater problems to concern itself with than tap dancing in the toilet