Sen. Larry Craig Files Appeal
Idaho Republican Arrested In Sex Sting Vows He Will Finish Term In Senate
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Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, takes part in a Senate Environment and Public Works hearing in Washington Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. (AP)
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Timeline The Larry Craig Case Follow events in the arrest of, and subsequent guilty plea by the Idaho senator.
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Photo Essay Larry Craig Idaho senator embroiled in scandal after arrest at Minneapolis airport comes to light.
Craig's appeal was filed at the court in St. Paul less than two weeks after Hennepin County Judge Charles Porter refused to overturn the guilty plea, saying it "was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and ... supported by the evidence."
Craig, a Republican from Idaho, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in August after he was accused of soliciting sex in a bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in June.
The four-page filing did not detail the basis for the appeal.
In an interview on Sunday with KTVB-TV in Boise, Idaho, Craig repeated that he will not resign his post in the Senate and said he had the right to pursue his legal options.
"It is my right to do what I'm doing," said Craig. "I've already provided for Idaho certainty that Idaho needed - I'm not running for re-election. I'm no longer in the way. I am pursuing my constitutional rights."
But legal experts have predicted that Craig would have a hard time winning on appeal.
"What's the likelihood of success? Even less likely of prevailing in the appeal than he had in prevailing before Porter," Steve Simon, a legal defense expert at the University of Minnesota Law School, said earlier this month.
The appeals court must find there's been an "abuse of discretion" by the trial judge before overturning a ruling - in other words, that some aspect of the ruling was decided improperly. Ron Meshbesher, a longtime Minneapolis defense attorney, said earlier this month that the standard for an abuse of discretion is vague but that such a ruling is fairly rare.Click here to see Craig's motion to appeal (PDF)
"It's not frequent, let's put it that way," Meshbesher said. "It certainly is a steep hill to climb."
It would most likely be well into 2008 before the Court of Appeals rules on the case. The process by which both sides prepare their legal briefs alone usually stretches to more than 100 days.
A heavy caseload at the Court of Appeals has slowed down both the scheduling of oral arguments and the release of rulings, according to court spokesman John Kostouros. It has been taking at least three months after briefs are filed for arguments to be scheduled, he said, and at least another three months before a decision is reached.
Craig's Senate term ends at the end of 2008.
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Click here to see Craig's motion to appeal (PDF)
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See all 128 CommentsPosted by jowand at 05:34 AM : Oct 16, 2007
Err, derr, guess what? I was already on a jury - hit a republican with a HUGE verdict! He went home crying. :-)
Posted by sftodd at 11:20 PM : Oct 15, 2007
This is why idiots like you are no allowed on juries, delusional bigotry.
Methinks thou dost protest too much...
Posted by brianbwb at 03:20 AM : Oct 16, 2007
Since when is being rich a crime in the US, if he were a Dem you would be howling foul. Bark bark bark you Yellow Dog Progressive.
By the way, even if you just let it go, you will still be filthy rich, and if your family, business associates and friends believe in your innocence, what then do you care about the court record? You are still free and will never miss a single meal.
Methinks thou dost protest too much...
The Republican (Nazi) Party - Better be very nice to - Craig
Otherwise the Federal ..Child S*e*x* .. Operations may become very Public ! !
Over the Decades - Too many Influential Loyal - Republican (Nazi) Party Members
Took a active part in it ! ! !
Lastdance
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Recall?? Heck, they just inducted him into the Idaho Hall Of Fame. I don''t think they plan on recalling him. Anyway, I hope they don''t. Where else could we have this much fun for free?
What''s funny about the foot-tapping thing is that those of us who are straight and don''t know about the whole gay-morse code thing, if Craig had been in the stall next to me I would have ignored him not realizing he was trying to get my attention.
I''m not a switch hitter.
Go Rockies!
"Better to be in a public restroom with Sen. Craig..."
hawksprings
Sounds like you have a little crush on Mr. Craig. You should tell him about your feelings. Don''t worry love will find a way.
Better to be in a public restroom with Sen. Craig in the next stall than to take a car ride with Ted Kennedy, right Mary Jo?
They''re afraid to deal with him because he might start talking about senate secrets.
Is the Senator upset because Romney threw him under the bus and not under the bathroom stall?
I thought this moron pleaded guilty to a crime. I thought he agreed to resign.
What the heck is Romney supposed to do? Craig pleads guilty to a crime, makes a public apology, says he''s ashamed he let everyone down, then says he''s going to resign.
...two days later, a changes his mind and is pi$$ed off Romney didn''t want him on his team. Have you ever seen a more pathetic display of leadership?... and I''m a Republican
"Anti-Gay, Anti-Choice, Pro-Family, Pro-Guns, Pro-War"
They would be the dream ticket for the compassionate christian conservative republicans.
He''s not gay, but he solicits men in the bathroom.
He had weeks to decide whether to plead guilty or not.
Pled quilty, changed his mind.
He''s going to resign, but he''s not now.
He needs to go home and get help.
I don''t know if Idaho has a recall method but if they do they should recall this person.
Then again maybe Idaho enjoys being the laughing stock of America.
Resign senator.
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See all 128 Comments