Tape: Officer Accused Sen. Craig Of Lying

On Audiotape, Senator Accuses Arresting Officer Of Soliciting Him For Sex In Men's Room

(CBS/AP)  The officer who arrested Sen. Larry Craig in a police undercover operation at an airport men's room accused the senator of lying to him during an interrogation afterward, according to an audiotape of the arrest.

On the tape, released Thursday by the Minneapolis airport police, the Idaho Republican senator, in turn, accuses the officer of soliciting him for sex.

"I'm not gay. I don't do these kinds of things," Craig told Sgt. Dave Karsnia minutes after the two men met in a men's room at the airport on June 11.

"You shouldn't be out to entrap people," Craig told the officer. "I don't want you to take me to jail."

Karsnia replied that Craig wouldn't be going to jail as long as he cooperated.

The senator also admits he put his hand under the stall but says was not trying to signal the officer, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews.

Soon after this the officer accuses the senator of lying.

"You're not being truthful with me," said Karsnia. "I'm kind of disappointed in you, senator."

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Hear The Police Recording

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The picture painted by this tape is of a powerful but now cornered senator claiming he was misunderstood, adds Andrews. But just like that officer, most voters in Idaho and a growing number of Republicans aren't buying.

More of Craig's Republican colleagues moved away from him Thursday.

"I think the pressure will continue to build," said Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, who chairs the party's senatorial campaign committee.

Ensign told The Associated Press in his home state that Craig "admitted guilt, he pled guilty. It's a little different situation than just being accused of something."

Ensign stopped short of calling on Craig to resign his seat, but strongly suggested he do so.

"I wouldn't put myself hopefully in that kind of position, but if I was in a position like that, that's what I would do," he said. "He's going to have to answer that for himself."

Several other Republicans have called on Craig to step down, and Ensign's comments, coming from a member of the leadership, sent an unmistakable public signal that support for the Idaho Republican has eroded significantly.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for Craig denied widespread speculation in Washington that Craig - who's up for re-election next year - was preparing to quit. Sidney Smith said he had heard no such discussion.

Republican Senate leaders have pushed Craig from senior committee positions. A White House spokesman expressed disappointment in the 62-year-old lawmaker, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge stemming from an undercover police operation last June in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.

With next year's elections looming, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield reports Republicans are already dealing with a host of problems - an unpopular president, a Democratic opposition that is raising more money, and charges of sexual and financial misconduct confronting Republican officeholders from Louisiana Sen. David Vitter to Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

The last thing Republicans need is a scandal that strikes at the heart of their claim to represent traditional family values, Greenfield said.

"You've got people that are representing a certain set of values. And when they fail to live up to those, I think that is disheartening to voters more than anything," Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council told CBS News' The Early Show.

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Police Report On Bathroom Arrest of Sen. Larry Craig

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Some Republicans took a harsh stand against the lawmaker. "Senator Craig pled guilty to a crime involving conduct unbecoming a senator," said Sen. Norm Coleman. "He should resign."

Coleman, who faces a tough race for re-election next year, also turned over to charity a $2,500 campaign donation he received two months ago from Craig's political action committee.

[lars008-2009]

OMG... another demonic-rat MOLE outed from the gop...

hahahahahaha

had he been in the demonic-rat party where he belongs... they would make him their hero...

hahahahaha

[cruiser111-2009]

It''s time to run all these disgusting perverts out of Washington Republican and democrats alike. We need a new congress, senate, and president. No wonder 23 to 26% of the voting populous vote!!

[gunnerv1]

Just one more peterpuffer hiding in the Republican
Party. They''ll never suspect me here.

[aznyron-2009]

this is sad situation when you go to the rest room and if by some chance undercover cop is in the next stahl you just might be facing the same charge. If you want to engage in g-ay s-ex i am sure you can find a better way than that this is scary when you have to use a public rest room it just might cost you 500 bucks for disordly cond. charge which is tough to beat cops word is LAW just remember this fines fines fines is what they want they dont care who pays them just lock um up and get there money and the cop has to have so many tickets & arrest every month Now i want to say I am not excusing the Senator behavoir but I think there should have been more than a tap on the foot and hand going down to the floor and just why is the stahl open at the bottom any way ? it should be sealed to the floor this way it elimates any of this B/S
Senator this is one Democrat that not quick to judge you let your wife do that job what you do in private is none of any one business other than your wife

[rushlimpdrug]

My uncle take his pants and shoes off my husband . . . does this mean that they are GAY? . . .
Posted by fx_gurl

You may want to sit down and take a deep breath before someone answers your question.

[rplat]

Craig is disgusting and should be run out of office. On the other hand, he''s typical of present day politicians (regardless of party) who will say or do anything to further their petty careers and retain their places at the public feeding trough. With any luck he''ll be gone today.

[oleander8]

The worst thing about Craig is his hypocrisy - he used his position of power to denigrate and disempower an entire segment of our population. The gay community.

[dodaz-2009]

GEEEZ leweeez, Is it to much to ask for some "REAL" Rep.conservatives to get elected , instead of these weirdos ? Are any left ? Any real Dem libs as well ? these ( "REAL" Reps,Dems)people are NOT the problem,... it''s the Extremeist factions from each group that are messing it up, Ya know ? the Neo-con faction has turned everything to absolute "Dirt"...on a political,social,and economic level--- At least w/ a REAl conservative there might be some dis-agreements-from both sides but not --complete anarchy...oh, well.

[iceman_1960]

"I have never voted for a Republican presidential candidate in my life."

I probably would have voted for Dwight Eisenhower, but I was too young to vote at the time.

Of course I would have voted for Abraham Lincoln, but I was barely in my teens when he was running.

If Ron Paul is nominated by the GOP, or Chuck Hagel (who isn''t a candidate) I would consider them seriously.

But Romney, Giuliani or Thompson ? Fuggetaboutit.

[aengichy]

Hi,

I have read all these posting about senator Craig, and it looks like mine was deleted from this post on senator Craig. Anyone see my post?

[drputt45]

This is not good for our country. But, if we really knew the truth about all of our politicians, we wouldn''t have any left. Too many butts to kiss on the way up to not get caught kissing the wrong ones.

How many of our elected officials, city, county, state and federal can stand a real close look? Some just haven''t got caught yet.

[infidel_us]

Sounds to me like WE are falling behind that brothel doesn''''t it? Sieg Heil Y''''all.
Posted by MCVet at 09:36 AM : Aug 31, 2007

Don''t let the door hit you on your way to socialist Europe. We don''t need you or want you here. You are a disgrace to the US and the USMC (if you really were one.) I seriously doubt it.

The Marines have NEVER been THAT hard up for people.

[iceman_1960]

"Actually, a year from right now, Craig will be very much remembered. He will be forgotten in January 2009 when Hillary takes the Oval Office.

Bite me, Repug!

Regards,"
- Posted by nancy_naive at 09:40 AM : Aug 31, 2007

Silly Rabbit.

I happen to be a supporter of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

I have never voted for a Republican presidential candidate in my life. (I sat out the election the second time Bill Clinton ran.)

So typical... When a poster here makes an objective statement about a situation, rather than just one more line from the Partisan Playbook, somebody just has to assume that he or she is "on the other side."

[ekucrew]

ATTENTION REPUBS AND GOP HONCHOS......

Send this PR Pariah packing back to Idaho...Fred Thompson is annoucing his candidacy for President of the United States next week. Even this Democrat knows Craig is worse than a *** in the punch bowl right now.........

[dodaz-2009]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20520530/site/newsweek

He''s been on the " Gaydar" for years,.. he finally sealed his own coffin,.. these guys are sooooo self loathing,... Jig is up cupcake, time to pay the piper,...Craig has been confronted before about his "Gayness"(*** in Public restroom) in the past ...denied it profusely,... now he''s on the Mark foley pile...no pun intended

[iceman_1960]

A year from now, no one will remember Larry Craig.

Who remembers David Vitter from two months ago ? I just had to look up his first name.

But everybody and his cousin will still be laughing at Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

[mcvet]

Europe was a growing brothel long before we came to town.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057840/qu
otes
Posted by lars008 at 09:22 AM : Aug 31, 2007

Yeah? American''s should have it so lucky. How many workers in Europe go to work EVERYDAY without health coverage? How many young men age 30 in Europe can expect to make $5,000 less than their fathers? Why is the standard of living there BETTER than in the US? How many Workers in Europe have worked their entire lives only to have their pension and healthcare ripped away? Sounds to me like WE are falling behind that brothel doesn''t it? Sieg Heil Y''all.

[iceman_1960]

For the record, Bill Clinton''s foolish dalliance with Monica Lewinsky not only became a permanent fixture in the history books and the popular culture, but [indirectly] led to his impeachment.

I''d say that''s getting in a lot more trouble than he ever wanted to be in.

[iceman_1960]

"But we haven''t managed a Hitler or a Mussolini yet."

We managed them both quite well in World War II.

We managed Tojo pretty well too.

It''s Osama we haven''t managed yet.

[hungry1968]

Posted by lars008 at 09:22 AM : Aug 31, 2007


First you post your stupid links to nowhere, then links to web sites that remind me of a kindergarten kids art work hanging on a fridge, and now you''re posting a link to the IMDB quotes from the "Americanization of Emily" from 1964?

Why do you even bother?