Tape: Officer Accused Sen. Craig Of Lying

(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.

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[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?