BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Craig vows to finish term

Forget that former Sen. Larry Craig stuff.

The Idaho Republican, who was arrested for soliciting sex in an airport men's room, pled guilty to disorderly conduct but said he was not gay, received little support from GOP colleagues and became the butt of countless rude latenight jokes before announcing it was his "intent" to resign from office Sept. 30, has changed his mind.

Even though he lost his legal bid to overturn his guilty plea earlier today when a Minnesota judge ruled against him, Craig now says he realizes he can still serve Idaho well and put his long seniority to work so he will complete his term ending January 2009 and then retire.

He said he will continue to explore his legal options and try to clear his name before the Senate Ethics Committee. His decision will not please Republican colleagues who wanted the latest scandal distraction gone. Just the other day, as Craig continued serving beyond his own Sept. 30 deadline, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he still felt resignation was the "right choice." McConnell cancelled a media availability in Washington this afternoon to avoid talking about the Craig situation.

In a statement Craig said he was "extremely disappointed" with the judge's ruling and "I am innocent of the charges against me." The legal problem for him is that he signed an affidavit admitting his guilt, paying a $575 fine and receiving a one-year probation.

Today, Judge Charles A Porter Jr. wrote Craig was "a career politician with a college education" and "is of, at least, above average intelligence." He added that the plea was "accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence ... the defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea is denied."

In his statement, Craig claimed he realized over the past three weeks that it was possible for him to work effectively in the Senate. "Over the course of my three terms in the Senate and five terms in the House," Craig said, "I have accumulated seniority and important committee assignments that are valuable to Idaho, not the least of which are my seats on the Appropriations Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Veterans' Affairs Committee. A replacement would be highly unlikely to obtain these posts."

He also claimed he could not work to clear his name in the Ethics Committee if he was no longer a senator.

The decision will complicate life for his Senate colleagues, most of whom distanced themselves from Craig after news of his June lavatory arrest and later guilty plea became public.

In an unusual move late today Nevada's Senator John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called on Craig to quit. "He gave us his word that he would resign," Ensign said. "I'm calling on Sen. Craig to keep his word. If he loves the party, and he loves the Senate, the honorable thing to do is to resign."

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Republican in a staunchly Republican state who would name Craig's replacement to fill out the unexpired term, said he was ready to name someone if Craig resigns. Having the remaining months of Craig's term to build statewide name familiarity would give his replacement a leg-up in the November 2008 election, when Republicans already face defending 22 of the 34 Senate seats up for election. The Friday print edition story is here.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Shoot From Hip]

Once again, Sen. Craig has demonstrated that his word means nothing. First he pleads guilty and then says he's changed his mind. Now he's been denied a change of plea and says he's changed his mind about resigning. What a terrific human being. A great Republican politician. The GOP deserves this guy...all the way through next year's election.

[blueeyes]

just because he said that he is not "gay", doesnt mean he is not a "switch-hitter"

[Scy]

Typical Repub hypocrite and BUFFOON. Quite glad he is staying. Another Repub poster child for idiocy and incompetence.

[Dave Endahl]

I feel sorry for Larry Craig, his wife and family. He has not taken responsibility for his behavior and apparently lacks the moral integrity to do so. He does not belong in the Senate. If he remains, it's for his own selfish purposes.

[Kaen]

Well "President Clinton" stayed in office and everyone still loves him why not a senator?

[Rowland]

Perhaps the people of Idaho will not be so hard-wired Republican next time around. I assume they don't rate hypocrasy very highly, either.

[Mike]

I think the Senate should move Larry Craig's stall--or I mean office-- over next to Barney Franks office. Maybe Barney can Keep him out of trouble for a while.

Signed: A Veteran from Pennsylvania.

[Thomas Hyde]

He could have gone quietly. Do you trust a senator or anyone who pleds guilty to disordery conduct and reneges on a promise?

[Karl Stopper]

Senator Craig Stated that he would resign if the judge threw out his guilty plea. The judge saw clearly that Craig is guilty and that plea stands.

Now Craig said he will not resign.
Craig lied.

[GOP Iintegrity GONE]

I removed my ticker there... was inappropriate and stood in the way of a more important message

I suggest America look at the ACTUAL court documents from the Larry Craig ordeal

http://www.mncourts.gov/documents/4/Public/News/Larry_Craig_-_Copy_of_State's_Memorandum_in_Opposition_to_Defendant's_Motion_to_Withdraw_Plea_of_Guilty_092407.pdf

Now, scroll down to where Larry was arrested and pulled out his Senate ID + Senate business card and says "What do you think about THAT ?" to the officer.

what we have HERE is an entirely NEW story.

This is a US Senator using their senate status to infer they are above the law

Foley cost them 2006, Craig's gonna cost em in 2008.

Here is a GOP senator using his PULL as a US Senator to infer that well America ? What do you think about that ?

Further, it might be of interest to see what hotels Larry had booked in the nearby area, and in the past as well coinciding with this airport visits.

FURTHER ?

What code was he actually tapping

FURTHER ?

If you read in the court documents ? He actually flew BACK to Washington - THEN - flew BACK to visit the prosecutor PERSONALLY.

I want to know what he posted in his senate office as to where he was GOING that day- and to do what.

He flew BACK to D.C. then - took 11 days and mailed in the Plea.

this document has EVERYTHING that happened in the bathroom. It's pretty CLEAR there was NO QUESTION what he was up to.

And he thinks he's 'still able to play a functional role' as he states today.

I'd say he's the foley before 2008 if he's not careful.

When the US public finds out a US GOP senator is willing to abuse their position and advocate they are above the law ?

it's all over.

[hunkie]

Still servicing the people!

[rjw]

Yeah, yeah all Republicans are bad. So are all Christians, Moslems, Jews, Gays, blah, blah blah. Oh yeah don't forget about Hillary and Whitewater and President Bill who lied under oath.

[changethesubject]

for the pro-Craig geniuses: I don't recall Clinton making a political career on an "anti-adultery" platform.

[Marshall]

Wow. WHO CARES?!?!?!?! there is a war, and a near election, and all you can think about is gay sex. Man, if this was a random dude at an airport, no one would care beyond the first 2 days. leave the man alone.

[Jake Smith]

Clinton was a dope but there are some stark differenes.

Clinton did not aggresively pursue legislation is opposition of his sexual activities. Craig has been a banner-carrier for "homosexuality is evil and deviant."

Regardless of what you belive about homosexuality, you cannot ignore the fact he has been an ultimate hypocrite. And, as the previous poster noted, actively tried to use his position as a US Senator to avoid prosecution.

[Rich]

Same old Republicans. Tell people how to live, but don't follow the same rules. Do as I say, NOT as I do. To those who bash Bill Clinton. Yeah he lied, but he NEVER set himself up as part of the "moral majority". Senator Craig, first admitted guilt, then retracted, then said he would resign if his guilt wasn't overturned, then again changed his mind.

HE ADMITTED GUILT!! Now he's constantly lying and trying to snowball the public. He does not even care about how all of this is affecting his party, he only cares for HIMSELF!! This is why the right-wing is so angry. They realize they are becoming more & more irrelevant as time passes. One senator tries to have sex in a bathroom, another gets caught up in the man, boy love page scandal, and a minister gets busted paying for a male hooker and buying drugs. GIMME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION.

[Thomas Hyde]

Feeling sorry for Craig? He is making himself a circus act to watch.

[EJDUBYA]

So he's gay, BFD. Or maybe he's not gay, also BFD. Maybe he's AC/DC, BFD. The government has no business meddling in what consenting adults may chose to do, although I personally would prefer they not do it in a public restroom where I may need to "go." Nevertheless, it is a form of poetic justice that one of the hardy proponents of just such government meddling be the one caught in his own net. You have to appreciate the exquisite irony of that.

If these people weren't such hypocrites, who champion the rights of everyone to "be themselves," at least as long as they act correctly according to the hypocritical standard, Senator Craig wouldn't be in this mess, now would he? I'm sure the irony is lost on him and his ilk. Hey Mr. Right Wing Christian Moralist, just go home and leave me alone. In fact, all of you religious fundamentalist zealots, of whatever stripe or persuasion, I'll make you a deal. If you don't try to cram your religion down my throat, I'll likewise let you go about your business. Deal?

[Gyurme]

I would not call Craig's decisions "The Mother of All Flip Flops" but I am sure David Letterman would put it in his "Top Ten Flip Flops of All Time."

[Catholic]

This proves how shameless Larry is. He prefers power than the conscience. What else can you expect from him if he stays in power?

[Topanga]

The issue is not that he is gay, the issue is not that he committed a crime, the issue is not that he is a hypocrite or even that he is a lier, the issue is that we have a US Senator who is so out of his mind that he is soliciting anonymous, high risk sex in public bathrooms in airports. Think about it. What state of mind does a person have to risks his entire career and family? This is insane behavior. The man needs serious medical attention, not a job in the Senate.