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.

[tnichlsn]

Maybe someone should fix up all the closeted, gay, homophobic republicsans with all the closeted, gay, homophobic preachers and throw a coming out party for them... If they could meet someone nice, they wouldn''t have to work the men''s rooms, which must be few and far between in Idaho.

[terrapin78]

Inappropriate behavior is inappropriate behavior. End of sentence. Doesn''t matter if it is gay or straight behavior.

Inappropriate is inappropriate.

[nexgen99]

Good, now when will the Democrats ask Barney franks and Ted Kennedy to resign. Guess what never. They gave Gerry Stubbs a congressman who was caught having *** with a 17 year old male page a standing ovation. At least the Republicans clean up their waste.

[infidel_us]

I read the posted police report. No excuses.....he needs to resign ASAP. We don''t need him, or others like him, in elected office. At least, not on the republican side of the aisle. Just disgraceful behavior!

[micma-2009]

I hope he stays in office and offers a constant reminder to the voters of Idaho and beyond that the so called "family values" Republicans are a bunch of sick, corrupt, hypocrites.

[tnichlsn]

they keep bringing up Frank and Studds. Neither of them ever claimed to be from the party of God, or voted against equal protection for all....

[infidel_us]

are a bunch of sick, corrupt, hypocrites.
Posted by micma at 10:15 AM : Aug 30, 2007

As opposed to the sick, corrupt, hypocrite democrats? You libs wrote the book on all the above. At least Craig never drove a woman off a bridge and left her to die.

[gkc99]

If your a Repugniscum, don''t count on any support or loyalty from your "friends" is the clear message here. It''s every yellow dog for himself or herself among the Repugs. Time to throw Craig off the sled. For what? He voted the way his fascist masters told him to on every occasion. The guy may or may not have done anything. Even if he has a personal weakness for playing weiner games in mens'' rooms, he sure hasn''t bucked the fascists or the rabid religionist American Taliban in any way.

But never mind that, the snarling yellow dogs of the Repugniscum party will rip him to shreds.

Maybe John McCain can tell us why Craig''s sins are worse than letting uninspected, overloaded Mexican trucks onto our freeways. Or Mitt Romney, another chickenhawk, can tell us what his family has done for the war effort other than rake in money.

Pathetic, *********** repugs.

[nexgen99]

they keep bringing up Frank and Studds. Neither of them ever claimed to be from the party of God, or voted against equal protection for all....
Posted by tnichlsn at 10:27 AM : Aug 30, 2007
------------------------------
It has nothing to do about being from the party of god, it''s all about criminal activity by elected officials. Democrats ignore the crooks in their mists.

[infidel_us]

If your a Repugniscum, don''''t count on any support or loyalty from your "friends" is the clear message here. It''''s every yellow dog for himself or herself among the Repugs. Posted by gkc99 at 10:32 AM : Aug 30, 2007

You are as ''ignant'' as your are misguided. The ONLY time a democrat will turn on a democrat is if the dem in question stands NO CHANCE of being re-elected.

That''s the only time a dem will reach down and find some morals or ethics somewhere in their God forsaken souls. At least republicans try to purge the scum from their ranks - when they are actually guilty.

[prinzowhales]

Craig needs some intensive one-on-one counseling from one of Representative Barnyard Frank''s (D-Mass) call boys from the business run out of his townhouse. Perhaps the Log Cabin Republicans can come up with the money for the trick...er... counseling.

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Barney Frank accepts politcal donations from N.A.M.B.L.A.

[actornaught]

Countdown on MSNBC did a reenactment from the police report. Good stuff.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=6a07f2bc-d5a6-4299-a94c-7b448c37e6fe&p=Source_Countdown&t=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/&fg=

[omega39-2009]

It has nothing to do about being from the party of god, it''''''''s all about criminal activity by elected officials. Democrats ignore the crooks in their mists.
Posted by nexgen99 at 10:34 AM : Aug 30, 2007

Soooo, Vitter and Stevens ???? ...... guess the cat got your tongue now. LOL !
Posted by parrot2

Not to mention Tom Delay, the Republicans tried to change the rules so he could hold his position even after he was indicted.

[nexgen99]

parrot2::: What did they do with Gerry Stubbs, Kennedy, Frank, and a host of other democrats. Huh!!! The republicans call for the resignation of their own. The Democrats give theirs standing ovations. Grow up parrot2.

[alicia64]

Good Heavens - Wake Up! This partisan bickering is why we elect Idiot after Idiot as our President. We are so wrapped up into personal issues that we fail to ask the questions that are pivotal to our country right now:
*How are we going to fix our "Loan" from China?
*Health Care?
*Homeland Security?
*Infrastructure?
and the list goes on -
Let Craig play pokey in the bathroom - it doesn''t affect my taxes one bit.

[dodaz-2009]

Hey let''s quit the Bashing,.. The GOP is one BIG happy family,.. and like every family,.. there is always one "gayUncle" that no one wants to talk about , right ? Cmon !! I got yer BACK Craig, i''m in the stall right BEHIND you, =wink=wink...

lol

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Barney Frank refuses to return politcal donations from N.A.M.B.L.A.

Hillary / Barak 2008!

[gkc99]

"At least republicans try to purge the scum from their ranks - when they are actually guilty."--Posted by infidel_us


Har har like they''re purged the war criminals and liars at the White House, eh? The repugs have been so busy sucking up to Bushit I guess they just haven''t noticed how many have had to resign to spend time with their families. No, theft and treason are applauded by Repugs.

And all the so-called Christians among them seems to have forgotten Geezis'' teachings about forgiveness.

[mcvet]

parrot2::: What did they do with Gerry Stubbs, Kennedy, Frank, and a host of other democrats. Huh!!! The republicans call for the resignation of their own. The Democrats give theirs standing ovations. Grow up parrot2.
Posted by nexgen99 at 10:59 AM : Aug 30, 2007

Oh PLEASE! ROFLMAO A lower than Life Fascist telling someone to grow up? I''ll bet your one of those pathetic LOSERS who elected this freak to put laws in place about OUR morality aren''t you? YOU elected a slimy Snake Oil Salesman who gave you the red meat hate you wanted and didn''t concern yourself with the FACT that he was one of those you said you hated so much. If you Nazi''s are going to run elections on "Family Values" don''t be surprised when people hold you to it. YOU are the one who needs to grow up.. you were sold a line of hate by a Hypocrit... YOU bought into the Party of "family values" and they turned out to be just POLITICIAN''s like all the rest. Why spew hatred at those who point that fact out to you? Sieg Heil Bush!! Come on Klan Man help us out here SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!!! Dumb as a box of rocks!!!

[name_verify]

If Craig is proved queer he should resign. That hasnt been proved yet. If/when that happens he should be punched in the head and shunned by society like any other *****t, regardless of party label.

[roger_inkart]

Democrats ignore the crooks in their mists.
Posted by nexgen99 at 10:34 AM : Aug 30, 2007

I have really enjoyed the last few days. Coming to these forums and watching the GOP apologists pull out all the stops in a misplaced attempt to direct attention away from the Republican party meltdown. It has really been a treat.

I especially enjoy the desperate lies about Franks. You people have been corrected over and over, yet you still resort to distortions and outright falsehoods. As if that makes what Craig did ok, or less of a crime. What you say Franks did isn''t true. What Foley, Vitter and Craig did is.

[mcvet]

Barney Frank refuses to return politcal donations from N.A.M.B.L.A.

Hillary / Barak 2008!
Posted by screen_name_ at 11:02 AM : Aug 30, 2007
+ report abuse

You have a point? Oh that''s right! That''s one of the groups you and Senator Wide Stance hate so much isn''t it?? ROFLMAO At least they are HONEST about it and do not go around Toe Tapping like you Nazi''s do!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Y''all. You really aren''t the sharpest knife in the old drawer there are you? ROFLMAO

[infidel_us]

Har har like they''''re purged the war criminals and liars at the White House, eh?
Posted by gkc99 at 11:02 AM : Aug 30, 2007

That''s YOUR OPINION. I don''t recall hearing any "war crime" convictions of white house people. And what ''liars'' are you referring to?
Put down the Kool-Aid every once in a while. It will do you good.

[marcodele]

"Pressure Mounts...." Wasn''t Craig looking for a pressure mount in Minneapolis?

Here''s every neocon reaction in a nutshell:

"But Clinton...
"But Barney Frank...
"Well at least Republicans..."

And BTW, Republicans only stand up to the plate and take full responsibility AFTER they''ve been caught. Dennis Hastert covered for Foley''s follies for years. And David Vitter stood behind his wife and kids and took "full responsibility" AFTER he was contacted by Hustler Magazine. Tom Delay still doesn''t think he did anything wrong, and Rove, Libby, Cheney, Gonzales and Rumsfeld should all go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect more taxpayer dollars. I don''t see Republicans weeding out those crooks, do you?

Okay, I''m ready... go for it...

"But Clinton...."

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Barney Frank refuses to return politcal donations from N.A.M.B.L.A.

Ted Kennedy refuses to meet with spokesperson from M.A.D.D.

Hillary / Barak 2008!

[alicia64]

If Craig is proved queer he should resign. That hasnt been proved yet. If/when that happens he should be punched in the head and shunned by society like any other *****t, regardless of party label.

Posted by screen_name_ at 11:05 AM : Aug 30, 2007

You need to crawl back under your rock. Let the country be run by those who actually put a little thought into it.

[name_verify]

If Craig is proved queer he should resign. That hasnt been proved yet. If/when that happens he should be punched in the head and shunned by society like any other *****t, regardless of party label.

[mcvet]

It has nothing to do about being from the party of god, it''''s all about criminal activity by elected officials. Democrats ignore the crooks in their mists.
Posted by nexgen99 at 10:34 AM : Aug 30, 2007

Now Sparky that just isn''t true. In the last 10 years the fascist have had TWICE the number of these creeps and you keep defending them. YOU SAY your about "Family Values" and what kind of Values are you giving our children? You want to distroy a President for an after work affair, yet you let one of the WORST Nazi''s in the Senate go peeking around in a public restroom and defend him? I mean come on even a low life Fascist Klan Member has to be better than that! If you''re going to sell the hate and division to get elected you''d damned well better live by the garbage you hand out. Sieg Heil Y''all.

[actornaught]

"At least republicans try to purge the scum from their ranks - when they are actually guilty."--Posted by infidel_us

Okay, we''ve seen enough of this lie to realize it''s the latest talking point. Where''s it from, fox? rush?

Craig was a known gay for about 15 years before he was ''purged'' by the media, not the ''pubs. And it''s the same for foley. etc etc...

[chicagopoet]

What? Hasn''t this guy resigned yet? What is he waiting for?

[mcvet]

If Craig is proved queer he should resign. That hasnt been proved yet. If/when that happens he should be punched in the head and shunned by society like any other *****t, regardless of party label.
Posted by screen_name_ at 11:12 AM : Aug 30, 2007
+ report abuse

Why stop there? Why not just form the SS and go after everyone who doesn''t fit YOUR view of what they should be or do? God but you Nazi''s are STUPID!! You know no more about what people do behind their own doors than I do but YOU want to stop OTHERS... well unless they are willing to bring the iron boot of the Government down on those you hate... in that case you are willing to look the other way. The folks in Washington have know this piece of Nazi Garbage was light in the loafers for years, it''s just easy to look the other way when he''s willing to meet the goals of Pat Robertson!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[infidel_us]

"You want to distroy a President for an after work affair" - MCVet

You is ignant! Didn''t know a president punched a time clock. You must be a Grambling State grad, huh?

[nexgen99]

Now Sparky that just isn''''t true. In the last 10 years the fascist have had TWICE the number of these creeps and you keep defending them.
Posted by MCVet at 11:12 AM : Aug 30, 2007
-----------------------------------
The so called fascist as you call them at least out their own. The morally challenged like you support a party that gives standing ovations to scum like Gerry Stubs a congressman who was CAUGHT having *** with a 17 year old male (not soliciting ***). And Ted Kennedy who killed a young girl and Barney franks who was caught running a bordello out of his apartment.

[mcvet]

That''''s YOUR OPINION. I don''''t recall hearing any "war crime" convictions of white house people. And what ''''liars'''' are you referring to?
Put down the Kool-Aid every once in a while. It will do you good.


Posted by infidel_us at 11:07 AM : Aug 30, 2007

A member of the Toe Tapping Association is telling someone else to put down the Kool-Aid? ROFLMAO Now THAT''s funny!! ROFLMAO It''s unusual for you there Swastika Breath... you ALWAYS blame "liberal''s" or the "Media" or someone for the problems of the Klan. You losing it? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil all you Religious Wacko''s ROFLMAO

[marcodele]

Screenname wrote (and reposted and reposted and reposted...) "If Craig is proved queer he should resign"

And the Brits wonder how 56 million voters can be so *** dumb?

God help us all.

[mcvet]

You is ignant! Didn''''t know a president punched a time clock. You must be a Grambling State grad, huh?
Posted by infidel_us at 11:17 AM : Aug 30, 2007

I know you swastika huggers have a hard time reading and understanding things EVEN the report of your own but give me a break. The STAR Report said it happened AFTER WORK MORON! You really aren''t the sharpest tool in the shed are you there? ROFLMAO In fact I''d say, being you are defending Senator Wide Stance here, you might have OTHER problems that OTHER nazi''s seem to have!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Y''all.

[realpatriot1]

MCVET,

I think screen-name might be in the closet himself. He''s talking the same way that Craig has been talking.

[alicia64]

And the Brits wonder how 56 million voters can be so *** dumb?

God help us all.
Posted by marcodele at 11:22 AM : Aug 30, 2007


Amen!!!

[actornaught]

I probably live an insulated life. I might''ve thought that racism and bigotry in the US are exaggerated. Then i see how blatantly infidel & screenname are about their stone age substitutes for judgement. It reinforces the existance of this evil, and we have a long way to go to level the playing field for everyone.

Luckily, the dream goes on.

[dodaz-2009]

Yeah ,...BUT... "Clinton is straight!"...remember the "BJ" thingie in the the Oval office ? we had a "blue Dress" w/ donut stains and an Intern to prove it!!,.. no closet gay men ,Hookers etc.... a staight man gettin'' nookie on the side...disgusting,..lol...

Daaam, who woulda gussed the GOP would make Clinton look like a Choir boy,..lol,.. Tricky bill, =wink=wink=

[roger_inkart]

"Pressure Mounts...." Wasn''''t Craig looking for a pressure mount in Minneapolis?

Posted by marcodele at 11:08 AM : Aug 30, 2007

That is the truly beautiful thing about this. WE get to make the snarky jokes now. The conservatives have been dredging up the Lewinsky scandal over and over. Well, payback is a beeatch, no?

Foley (R) Gay, hit on underage pages.
Vitter (R) Payed hookers for xes, likes to dress in diapers
Craig (R) Gay, hit on strangers in public bathrooms
Allen (R) Gay, offered a black undercover officer 20$ to allow him to blow him.

All within the last YEAR. Let the jokes fly!

[bks59]

all the good old boys never have problems oogling, chasing and stripping women with their eyes, but OH when it is on the other foot, when a man oogles you then it is ooh, ick. what is it like when it is on the other foot! Craig''s "alleged" actions did not put national security at risk, he did not lie the US into a war, he did not deny who he met bwehind closed doors for energy policy, if anything, he was seeking out a consentual retaionship with another adult.

It is a great opportunity for the reps to distract us from what the present white house is doing to the US and the constitution.

[mcvet]

The so called fascist as you call them at least out their own. The morally challenged like you support a party that gives standing ovations to scum like Gerry Stubs a congressman who was CAUGHT having *** with a 17 year old male (not soliciting ***). And Ted Kennedy who killed a young girl and Barney franks who was caught running a bordello out of his apartment.
Posted by nexgen99 at 11:19 AM : Aug 30, 2007
+ report abuse

I''ve always believed like my father on things like this. YOU give me a job where I can feed and take care of my family in a 40 hour week and I''ll take care of MY Family''s Values. He was a LIBERAL and a Veteran of WW II. Now when WE stop allowing Politician''s to run on "Family Values" and start asking questions about WHY this nation is NOW dead last in the Standard of Living, we''ll be on our way back to being AMERICAN''s again. It''s none of my concern what the *** life of someone''s representative is... none of my business. It IS my concern when 47 MILLION American''s have no Health Insurance. Now you can keep buying this Phoney Garbage of "Family Values" all you want, these people will TELL you what you want to hear so you will vote for them, doesn''t matter the party. I just think I''m better suited to determine what is or isn''t a value for MY family. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[marcodele]

No wonder Craig was so against a woman''s right to get an abortion. You can''t get pregnant from swallowing it.

[infidel_us]

Luckily, the dream goes on.
Posted by actornaught at 11:26 AM : Aug 30, 2007

Oh please.....take another hit off the bong and go back to watching Jerry Springer. Where libs are concerned, it''s more like the NIGHTMARE goes on!

[rangerdahl]

Bill Clinton unzipped his pants, received oral *** at his desk, and left a souvenier on the dress of the intern who did it. He also smoked a cigar that he had inserted into her ***. Then he lied about it. He will forever be known for that, even by democrats. Everyone that I know remembers him for that scandal and BS testimony he gave to a judge. I was in the Army back then and found it hard to respect a Commander-in-Chief who, while I was serving in some distant craphole (like Somalia), might be sitting back in a leather chair with his pants around his ankles, eyes closed, in lustful bliss, and hands roaming around the body of woman half his age and not his wife. Craig needs to go. But so did Clinton. Lastly, please keep the arguments on the topic, Ad Hominem attacks get us nowhere.

[name_verify]

DNC NEWS UPDATE

Barney Frank refuses to return politcal donations from N.A.M.B.L.A.

Ted Kennedy refuses to meet with spokesperson from M.A.D.D.

Hillary / Barak 2008!

[mcvet]

When you read the Police Report on this sleazy piece of Fascist Trash, you find that He like all nazi''s have a problem remembering what happened... especially when caught red handed. EVERYONE should read this Report. Sieg Heil Bush

[name_verify]

If Craig is proved queer he should resign. That hasnt been proved yet. If/when that happens he should be punched in the head and shunned by society like any other *****t, regardless of party label.

(MCVet appears threatened)