Larry Craig Resigns From Senate

Idaho Republican Announces Departure Effective Sept. 30, After Calls From Within Party To Quit Over Arrest

(CBS/AP) 

Craig was arrested June 11 in a police undercover vice operation. The arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, said in his report that the restroom where he encountered Craig is a known location for homosexual activity.

Craig has faced rumors about his sexuality since the 1980s. He has called assertions that he has engaged in gay sex ridiculous.

"I am not gay. I never have been gay," Craig said defiantly after a news conference Tuesday. He said he had kept the incident from aides, friends and family and pleaded guilty "in hopes of making it go away."

Other lawmakers embroiled in sex scandals also have resigned from Congress, albeit usually at the end of scenarios that took longer to play out than the one that claimed Craig.

Former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., quit last fall over sexually explicit Internet communications with male pages who had worked on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., resigned in 1995 amid allegations he had made unwanted sexual advances to 17 female employees and colleagues and altered his personal diaries to obstruct an ethics investigation.

On Saturday, Craig said he would pursue legal options to clear his name. He has retained Billy Martin, a Washington lawyer who represented Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in his dogfighting case, to pursue his legal options. Washington lawyer Stan Brand will represent Craig before the Senate ethics committee, said spokesman Dan Whiting.

"The people of Idaho deserve a senator who can devote 100 percent of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and of our nation," Craig said. "I have little control over what people choose to believe. But clearly my name is important to me, and my family is so very important also."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Craig "made a difficult decision, but the right one."

"It is my hope he will be remembered not for this, but for his three decades of dedicated public service," McConnell said. McConnell had been one of Craig's harshest critics, calling his actions "unforgivable."

Some Idaho residents who attended Craig's public resignation said it felt like a "political funeral."

Bayard Gregory, from Boise, said Craig should have been more forthright after his arrest.

"It's a horribly embarrassing experience to go through," Gregory said. "But if it were me, and I had done nothing wrong, I wouldn't have pleaded guilty."

Craig spokesman Sidney Smith said he did not know whether Craig would return to Washington on Tuesday, the start of the post-Labor Day congressional session.

"We haven't decided that yet, whether he's going to return or not," Smith said.

Craig represented Idaho in Congress for more than a quarter-century, including 17 years in the Senate. He was up for re-election next year.

Republicans, worried about the scandal's effect on next year's election, suffered a further setback Friday when veteran Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia announced he will retire rather than seek a sixth term. Democrats captured Virginia's other Senate seat from the GOP in the 2006 election.

Craig opposes gay marriage and has a strong record against gay rights. He was a leading voice in the Senate on gun issues and Western lands. Craig chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and was a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, where he was adept at securing federal money for Idaho projects.

A fiscal and social conservative, Craig sometimes broke with his party, notably on immigration, where he pushed changes that many in his party said offered "amnesty" to illegal immigrants. Much of the impetus behind Craig's push to ease bureaucratic hurdles to immigrant farm workers stemmed from his background as a rancher and the state's large rural, farming community.

[ianlou]

This is a conspiracy to blemish the righteous work of the moral backbone of America, the GOP.

If we allow the Godless Democrats to diminish our message by peeking into the privacy of our Closets, Computers and John-Stalls for the purpose of diminishing our righteousness, than America will succumb to being led by humanistic social program supporters!!!



just kidding...

[brianbwb-2009]

Larry you are GA*Y! Stop being ashamed of it and live your life openly for once! You''''re getting golder and may never have a chance like this again! Come OUT!
Posted by SgtRDS

Would be a great idea, but don''t forget the alimony checks, those can be and are usually worse than public ridicule.

[sgtrds]

"I apologize for what I have caused," Craig said, his wife Suzanne and two of their three children at his side with a historic Boise train station as backdrop. "I am deeply sorry."


BULLSH*IT!!! He needs to stop being "deeply sorry" for the man he is and just come out as a proud ga*y man! Hell he might even be able to keep his Senate seat!

Larry you are GA*Y! Stop being ashamed of it and live your life openly for once! You''re getting golder and may never have a chance like this again! Come OUT!

[lastdance2]

RE : patriotic9

The Posters - lars008 - seven-pesos Federal Employees -

Who post Comments just to : Purposely and Intensionally
Bury and try to Entomb : Serious Comments

They have no other Reason or Purpose -
For their Postings

Very Lonely - and - Very - Pathetic People ! ! !

Lastdance

[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

[realpatriot1]

Nearl4511/dumshun,

There is something more to this than innuendo( an Italian suppository? the alleged activity?).

There''s a guilty plea by an attorney who knew his rights. There was an attempt to use his power and influence to make the officer forget about it when Craig flashed his Senate business card.

The guy was accused in 1982 of soliciting *** from under-age pages, ala Foley. It was pushed under the rug pre-Studds & Frank. Everyone in Washington knew what was up with this guy and protected him for years.

Deal with it conservatives.

[lastdance2]

The S*e*x*u*a*l - Misconduct Complaints against Craig began in "1982"

In 1984 - Craig - Was under an Investigation for having
S*E*X* - with - Under Age Pages.
Like Foley - - Another - Closed door Investigation by - The FBI
on behalf of : The Republican (Nazi) Party

Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig

It has always been - The local Law Enforcement - Who has
Investigated these Actions and made the necessary Criminal Complaints

If you think for one moment - "The FBI" - Had no Knowledge that these People
We''re engaged in Child Predatory or Homosexual Predatory activities.

You''re Nuts ! ! !

If you want to Serve : The Republican (Nazi) Party
The best Way - You Can -

Volunteer - Your Own Child - as a :
Senatorial or Congressional ....." Page "

The Republican (Nazi) Party - Will be Forever : In your Debt ! ! !

Lastdance

[lastdance2]

RE : patriotic9

The Posters - seven-pesos - lasr008 - Federal Employees -

Who post Comments just to : Purposely and Intensionally
Bury and try to Entomb : Serious Comments

They have no other Reason or Purpose -
For their Postings

Very Lonely - and - Pathetic People ! ! !

Lastdance

[sgtrds]

Craig did the right thing for the country, his family and himself. If he was ''''entrapped'''', as he claims, he SHOULD ''''fight as hell'''' as he says. His announcement of stepping down was Gutsy!
Posted by dumbshun at 12:38 AM : Sep 03, 2007

Entrapped? He solicited ga*y se*x from another man in a rest room. Yes that''s gross and illegal, but if he''d just come out as a proud ga*y man instead of feeling like he''s some sort of sinner for wanting se*x from other men, then he could live an open ga*y life and find himself a partner and maybe some peace and happiness for what''s left of his life. Being happy with who you are and living the kind of life you want to live is so much better then trying to live up to the expectations and "morals" of others. This is YOUR chance Craig! Grab it! Spend at least the last few years of your life without secret desires! BE a ga*y man! You will feel better about yourself. Remember, you''re not coming back. This is the life you get. Live it YOUR way!

[nearl4511]

As a liberal, I can say that I never cared for Mr. Craig (or for any Idaho politics for that matter). However, the rabidness of the anti-gay crowd is amazing.

As far as I can tell, there is nothing to this but inuendo. Repubican''s would have fit in well at Salem.

[sgtrds]

I wish he''d just come out of the closet as what he is, a ga*y man. Then he should tell the holier-then-thou idiots in the republican party to go suck themselves and stay in office as a Senator. Hell he might even get re-elected. Even if he didn''t he''d still have SOME self-respect back!

[johnshaft4]

"You''ve done a heck of a (blow) job, Larry..."

Hopefully, he will fade to black at his Broke Back Mountain, Idaho sheep Neverland.

[patriotic9]

Mr. Craig,

Thanks so much for proving my points that
"CHRISTIANTY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS"

This world was much better off with PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIANS playing THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT in the CHURCHES then to come into US politics and sodomize United States (the holy, conservative, god-loving, republican-supporter christian man is "THE FATHER", that innocent, young,little boy whose pant is pulled down in the name of god is "THE SON" and what is inserted in the BACK HOLE of that innocent young little boy in the name of jesus, is the "HOLY SPIRIT")

lars008,
Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who believe in "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?


lars008,
I am waiting on your answer. Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who deny homosexual rights of marriage while practising "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?

Mr. Craig,
You would be a perfect candidate for a new Medical research to determine
"whether RELIGIOUS PEOPLE become PSYCHOTICS or PSYCHOTICS people become RELIGIOUS"

lars008
Still waiting on your answer. Did you loose your reasoning capabilities when you were told that Santa Clause comes on a flying deer to distribute candies.

[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

[patriotic9]

Mr. Craig,

Thanks so much for proving my points that
"CHRISTIANTY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS"

This world was much better off with PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIANS playing THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT in the CHURCHES then to come into US politics and sodomize United States (the holy, conservative, god-loving, republican-supporter christian man is "THE FATHER", that innocent, young,little boy whose pant is pulled down in the name of god is "THE SON" and what is inserted in the BACK HOLE of that innocent young little boy in the name of jesus, is the "HOLY SPIRIT")

lars008,
Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who believe in "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?


lars008,
I am waiting on your answer. Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who deny homosexual rights of marriage while practising "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?

Mr. Craig,
You would be a perfect candidate for a new Medical research to determine
"whether RELIGIOUS PEOPLE become PSYCHOTICS or PSYCHOTICS people become RELIGIOUS"

[patriotic9]

Mr. Craig,
Thanks so much for proving my points that
"CHRISTIANTY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS"

This world was much better off with PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIANS playing THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT in the CHURCHES then to come into US politics and sodomize United States (the holy, conservative, god-loving, republican-supporter christian man is "THE FATHER", that innocent, young,little boy whose pant is pulled down in the name of god is "THE SON" and what is inserted in the BACK HOLE of that innocent young little boy in the name of jesus, is the "HOLY SPIRIT")

lars008,
Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who believe in "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?


lars008,
I am waiting on your answer. Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who deny homosexual rights of marriage while practising "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?

[ubrew12]

stonebog said: "No more holding hands and throwing used tp over wall - per Sheryl one Square."
Sheryl Crow was kidding. Wanted to get a rise out of idiot Republicans. Only problem, it worked too well.. they still think she was serious.

[patriotic9]

Mr. Craig,
Thanks so much for proving my points that
"CHRISTIANTY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS"

This world was much better off with PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIANS playing THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT in the CHURCHES then to come into US politics and sodomize United States (the holy, conservative, god-loving, republican-supporter christian man is "THE FATHER", that innocent, young,little boy whose pant is pulled down in the name of god is "THE SON" and what is inserted in the BACK HOLE of that innocent young little boy in the name of jesus, is the "HOLY SPIRIT")

lars008,
Are you one of those PSYCHOTICS who believe in "THE FATHER", "THE SON" and "THE HOLY SPIRIT"?

[lars008-2009]

I didn''''t say he was held in contempt either(but he could''''ve been).
Posted by realpatriot1 at 05:19 PM : Sep 02, 2007

hahahaha

for what crime nancy???

name one president ever held in contempt of congress....

waiting....

[cdfoxtrot]

Did he really resign, or did he just kinda resign? Sounds like he''s just buying time to figure out a way to keep his job by saying he "intends" to resign. Typical sleezy Repiglican trickery. They always want to stall for time, knowing that the attention span of the average American is that of a two year old.