Craig To Seek A Reversal Of His Guilty Plea Today

By Josephine Hearn

(The Politico)  Sen. Larry Craig’s attorney, Billy Martin, said this morning the senator intends to file the legal papers in Minnesota later today to seek a reversal of his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in an airport men’s room.

Martin said the Idaho Republican, who was arrested June 11 in a police sex sting operation, had gone to the bathroom simply “to relieve himself.’’

“As he went into that stall, there was no intent to commit a crime,’’ Martin told Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” show. “He was charged with a crime and pleaded guilty, Matt, as convenience to make this go away quickly.’’

“Sen. Craig admits to going to the bathroom. He admits to moving his foot. He admits to reaching his hand down. That’s all,’’ Martin said. “That is not a crime.”

“So, what we are alleging is that it is not intelligent and knowingly to enter a plea to conduct that does not itself constitute a crime,” Martin added.

Craig signed a guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge on Aug. 1 and has since said he intends to resign Sept. 30, though he's holding out the possibility of staying on if he can reverse his guilty plea.

But Martin said on the “Today” show that his client “has not put any of those deadlines, or timetables on me.”

“This will take as long as it takes. We are going to fight this all the way through,’’ Martin vowed, adding “we are prepared to go to trial,’’ if necessary.