Senate Panel Rebukes Craig Over Sex Sting

Ethics Committee Says Idaho Senator Acted Improperly In Airport Men's Room Sex Sting

(CBS/AP)  The Senate Ethics Committee said Wednesday that Idaho Sen. Larry Craig acted improperly in connection with a men's room sex sting last year and had brought discredit on the Senate.

In a letter to the Republican senator, the ethics panel said Craig's attempt to withdraw his guilty plea after his arrest at a Minneapolis airport was an effort to evade legal consequences of his own actions.

Craig's actions constitute "improper conduct which has reflected discreditably on the Senate," the letter said.

In an e-mailed statement, Craig told The Associated Press he disagreed with the ethics panel's action.

"While I am disappointed and strongly disagree with the conclusions reached by the Senate Ethics Committee, from the outset I have encouraged the committee to act in a timely fashion and they have done so. I will continue to serve the people of Idaho," he said.

The six members of the committee - three Democrats and three Republicans - told Craig they believed he "committed the offense to which you pled guilty" and that "you entered your plea knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently."

The panel said Craig only tried to remove his guilty plea after his attempts to avoid public disclosure had failed.

"Your claims to the court ... to the effect that your guilty plea resulted from improper pressure or coercion, or that you did not, as a legal matter, know what you were doing when you pled guilty do not appear credible," the letter said.

Kevin Richert, the editorial page editor of the Idaho Statesman, told CBS Radio News he is curious to see how this will play out back in Craig's home state.

"There aren’t any really new allegations or new revelations but in this case it's coming from the senator's colleagues on Capitol Hill so it will be interesting to see how much weight Idahoans attach to that," Richert said.

The panel also said Craig should have received permission from the ethics panel before using campaign funds to pay his legal bills. Craig, who is not running for re-election, has spent more than $213,000 in campaign money for legal expense and public relations work in the wake of his arrest and conviction last summer.

The committee said it had reached no conclusion about whether use of campaign funds was proper, but it said "it is clear that you never sought the committee's approval, as required," to use the money for legal expenses.

Any future use of campaign money for legal bills will be seen as "demonstrating your continuing disregard of ethics requirements," the ethics committee wrote in its three-page letter.

The panel also admonished Craig for showing the arresting officer a business card that identified him as a U.S. senator. Craig has been reported to have told the officer at the time, "What do you think about that?"

The committee wrote, "You knew or should have known that a reasonable person in the position of the arresting officer could view your action and statement as an improper attempt by you to use your position and status ... to receive special and favorable treatment."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the ethics panel, declined to comment. A spokeswoman said the panel's letter of admonition cannot be appealed.

The ethics panel took no further action against Craig.

Craig, a three-term Republican, 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.

After the matter became public, Craig tried to withdraw his plea. A judge in Minnesota refused, saying Craig's plea "was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and ... supported by the evidence." Craig has appealed that ruling to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Senate Republicans demanded the ethics investigation after news broke of Craig's conviction last August. Craig first promised to resign Sept. 30, then reversed his decision. He now says he will stay in office until his term expires in January.

Craig has said an undercover police officer misinterpreted his foot and hand movements as signals that he wanted sex.

Craig, who lost several GOP leadership positions on Senate committees and subcommittees in the wake of the scandal, has been working with Boxer and other members of the Senate's environment committee on a global warming bill and other matters.

Besides Boxer, the letter is signed by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the panel's vice chairman, and Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Ken Salazar, D-Colo., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

[skyk-2009]

Democrats silent on the issue of (possible) sexual misconduct, and Republicans called for an investigation.

Didn''''t matter that it was a Republican, this was the same pattern with Bill and Monica. Dems turn a blind eye to this stuff, since they are up to their hero''''s neck in it.


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Posted by TheGateway1 at 08:00 PM : Feb 13, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Do you honestly believe your attempt to divert attention from what Craig did and what the party of "Family Values" are truly all about will work? I seriously doubt it! LOL We have a leader of a Political Party here, in a public bathroom doing MUCH worse than things he condemned other American''s for doing on the floor of the senate. If you can''t understand the difference here, you are completely blinded and without hope.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by TheGateway1 at 08:00 PM : Feb 13, 2008

And Mr. Clinton was impeached, fined, and lost his license to practice law!

As so should Mr. Craig! But they''re just slapping his hand a little. He should enjoy that!

[stevex47]

And this is the kinda fella the right wing wants in politics.

And they''ll do anything to help them keep their dirty little secrets, and in office.

[stevex47]

Look at the lame attempt by getaway to evade the truth of their little "party".

Ya, vote that way buddy. Typical. Kool-Aid follower. Like Manson, Hitler, Koresh, Ahmandinejad.

[singingrick]

Ah yes, more family values from the family values party.

[myidoncbs]

TheGateway1 claims, "Dems turn a blind eye to this stuff, since they are up to their hero''s neck in it."

Actually, just do a head count of the vast number of republican slimeballs caught in various illegal, immoral, and/or perverted s3xu@l activities and you''ll begin to see that the party that is "up to their hero''s neck in it" is the GOP!

"The devil decries evil.
Virtue is his guise
To find the hidden villain
Listen for the loudest voice"
- Rodger Malcolm Mitchell

Go here to learn about your disgusting GOPer''s hypocrisy regarding "moral values":

http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/Examples_of_Republican_hypocrisy_on_moral_values

[stevex47]

To blindly have some kind of evil allegiance to an "administration" so corrupt and pathetic as this one is just sick.

[myidoncbs]

Oh, sorry, I have a typo in my last message. Instead of GOPers, I meant GrOPers! Just to help you remember who the REAL pervs are: it''s the

G (r) O P !!!

[myidoncbs]

And to really pound this idea in, let me expand it a bit more.

The GOP is the G (r) O P (e) party !!! Grope!

They grope the little boys (pages) in congress. They grope in your pockets for your money. They grope prostitutes in bathroom stalls. They grope around for any excuse to keep the war, any war, going forever. They grope around in darkness. The G(r)OP(e) party is the party of the dammned.

[joyous88]

did you notice how many time

larry craig, jeff gannon (the male prstitute) and the

very gay Ted Haggard visited the White House,

there are plenty of gay republicans, the party of the Psychophant

[fridak-2009]

Well, if you are obsessed with mauling Craig for his hypocrisy and dishonesty, I guess that''s ok.

On the other hand, if you are obsessing because he tried to pick up a man in a restroom - you need to get over it. Who cares?

Either way, you''re obsessed. Get a life.

[joyous88]

conservatives have an immoral agenda,

insane McCain four more of the same

[joyous88]

fridak;

wake up dude , this article is about Lerry Craig and his hypocrisy and homosexual life style,

what else is there to talk about? Don''t like it? move to a new blog Dork!

[ixoye_02]

Republicans have some nerve thinking that they corner the market on "ethics" and "upright living". It''s good to see that idea turned upside down with all of the republican scandals generated by their own leaders, who painted themselves as god-fearing, religious, patriots who are above reproach.

[stevex47]

fridak,
"Either way, you''''re obsessed. Get a life."

No ones been more obsessed over *** than the right wing hypocrits with Clinton. They set the standard, no it''s payback time...a hundred fold.

[mcvet]

Well, if you are obsessed with mauling Craig for his hypocrisy and dishonesty, I guess that''''s ok.

On the other hand, if you are obsessing because he tried to pick up a man in a restroom - you need to get over it. Who cares?

Either way, you''''re obsessed. Get a life.



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Posted by fridak at 09:06 PM : Feb 13, 2008
+ report abuse

Hummmm You sound like ONE of the "Party" who want''s this to go away. LOL Guess what! LOL It isn''t! When you run against people using the "marriage amendment" to sucker in the most simple minded amoung us and it turns out that one of the ring leaders is WORSE than any of those you went to such lenghts to exclude from the Constitution, I''d say you have a pretty big problem. It''s not going away... far from it. Sieg Heil Bush

[walt1944-2009]

The Senate ethics committee wrote Larry Craig a letter today informing him that the committee did not believe him as he has been insisting that "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!!!".

Instead, the committee gave him a scolding, told him he would not get dessert with his supper for 3 weeks, and informed him he would have to use the men''s room at the closest garage until the end of his term in January 2009.

Although Craig has said he would not run for re-election (where have we heard that one before?), the "Wide Stance of Idaho" had his fingers and toes crossed and indicated that he would return to government if "Bagdad" John McCain were elected to the throne in the Oval Office!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[oeangus]

Gay man wants s.ex in bathroom. Big deal. Politician tries to worm his way out of trouble. Typical.

Is there supposed to be a story in here somewhere?

[harrydoghiny]

I''m glad the Senate ethics committee reamed Wide-Stance Larry a new one by delivering a serious tongue-lashing that will no doubt force him to continue servicing the people of Idaho...one stall at a time.

[liberalme]

This is a plot by godless liberals! Larry Craig was just trying to take a poo! He is not gay! Jesus told me! Larry, like me, believes that gay-s should be stoned to death!
Posted by singinprick

Ahhhhh I love the thumpers who pick and choose which of the 10 commandments they want to live by!

[liberalme]

Go here to learn about your disgusting GOPer''''s hypocrisy regarding "moral values":

http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/E
xamples_of_Republican_hypocrisy_on_moral
_values

Posted by MyIDonCBS

LOL Thanks, made my night!

[liberalme]

IDON--that''s some article!!



George W. Bush, Republican president, accused in a criminal complaint and lawsuit of raping Margie Schoedinger, who was later suicided. Accused by Tammy Phillips, a former stripper quoted in the National Enquirer in 2000 saying she had an affair with Bush that had ended in 1999.

Neil Bush, brother or G. W. Bush, in a March 2003 divorce deposition, admitted repeatedly having *** with strange women who just showed up at his room while on an Asian business trip. (Overshadowing the *** scandal; the business scandal--see link.) Washington Post article.

[lewiston14]

Se-x is good but I don''t think I want to do it with another guy. Gross

[liberalme]

Se-x is good but I don''''t think I want to do it with another guy. Gross

Posted by lewiston14 at 10:58 PM : Feb 13, 2008

Or a child!

[lewiston14]

or a child agree

[ontheleft]

Larry Craig announced he is running for president as a *** party candidate. He is promising billions in federal aid to enlarge all men''s bathroom stalls all across the country so that other men with wide stances don''t face the same humiliation he did.

[downtowner97]

A senator looks for a good time in a public bathroom where people send their kids and gets a slap on the wrist. A baseball player uses steroids and he''s on the floor of the house fighting to stay out of jail.

What''s wrong with this picture?

[andrew_693]

These conservatives want to protect america from the terrorist by hiding under dad''s desk (bush) or asking for deferments (cheney) or not bathing for 6 months (Ted Nuggent). Maybe if the christian republicans were paying attention in 9-11 instead of giving BJs in the bathroom or cruising for male *** on the streets 9-11 would not have happened.

[andrew_693]

The thought that the republican christians spent 55 million dollars on an investigation of Clintons ***''s activities should tell you how much they admire a good di... Also the fact that they didn''t agree with clinton when he attacked Bin Laden after the USS Cole was destroyed should tell you that for the republicans Clinton''s sch long was more important than defending the nation. Maybe if you conservatives didn''t read the bible so much you wouldn''t be such banana eaters.

[feelngbushed]

Honestly, Larry Craig was NOT trying to have *** with the undercover police officer. He was having a sudden random daydream trip down memory lane and re-enacting the intro sequence to "My Three Sons".

[roger_inkart]

What is SO sweet is that the GOP convention is in Minneapolis this year!!!

Chew on that you arrogant, stupid litte GOP morons. You thought you''d have your little party in one of the most progressive cities in the country - rub people''s noses in it a little? Well, now you can deal with the fallout from Craig''s indiscrection and the inevitable jokes that will follow.

Pass the popcorn!

[Wookiee-1138]

That stall at the St. Paul/Minneapolis airport is still something of a tourist attraction. While waiting to pick a relative a while back, a lady asked me to go in a take a picture for her.

[elcid4863]

I think Craig should be prosecuted for using campaign funds for his PERSONAL legal fees. How can this "conservative" republican get away with this? Where is the loud outcry from Dobson and his minnions and the rest of the moral majority? Why do they stand silently by?

Why is this guy still in office? There needs to be a law or procedure to remove him. He should be personally responsible for public funds he has used for his defense. He is a disgrace to his state and our country.

[downtowner97]

So you''re a single mom, and you send your son in to the men''s room to use the toilet. You really don''t want to wonder if someone is going to reach into the stall he is using to say "Hi". I don''t want to be sitting there and have a guy tapping my foot with his.

I really don''t care what gay men do at home or in a hotel room, but the bathroom should be for going to the bathroom.

[watcher269-2009]

Then afterwards the republicans went to Gayraigs home for dinner and just to see if anything would pop-up as they say.

[neoconrcrazy]

Seems to be republican sickness: hypocrisy!

Their family values (cheney''s daughter another example), conservative ideals, all for consumption for others, not them.

The republican party has become a stain on America; their lies and deceit have damaged this country and they should be severly sanctioned in the years to come.

[jerkeedoodle]

Rebukes?Should have tarred and feathered the hypocritical weinercleaner.This is as bad as J.Edgar Who''s ''is wearing a dress.

[brianbwb-2009]

"The panel also said Craig should have received permission from the ethics panel before using campaign funds to pay his legal bills. Craig, who is not running for re-election, has spent more than $213,000 in campaign money for legal expense and public relations work in the wake of his arrest and conviction last summer."

Since he is not campaigning for re election, it is more than improper use of campaign funds, it is embezzlement, pure and simple. If he did not declare the money as income, because he took it for his own personal use, then we can also consider tax fraud charges.

[bluestardad]

Another Bush Supporter caught in his lies! Preaching one thing and doing another!

[samrensho]

He''ll use the remaining campaign funds to buy trips to public toilets in every major city. Maybe he''ll go to the middle east and find Michael Jackson in a stall.

[bluestardad]

SITTING IN A CHURCH THINKING ABOUT KNEELING AND BOBBING IN THE BATHROOM! HANG IN THERE TED HAGGERT, MARK FOLEY!

GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE BOBBLE HEAD REPUBLICANS!

[dsr57]

For the most part, if you pay attention to the news over the course of last year and now the beginning of this one, I looks like most republicans are self loathing closet f@gs. They preach that homosexuality is wrong but then, next thing you know their getting busted for trying their Damndest to bang little kids or get a suck off in airport bathrooms. And the funniest thing about it is that most of them are in a position that they are supposed to protect children. Didn%u2019t Sen. Craig call Bill Clinton names for acting immorally?? Why oh why do people that live in glass houses throw rocks?

[brianbwb-2009]

It does not escape notice that Nambla, oops! er, the Republicans aren''t calling for investigations into the misuse of campaign funds...

[mcvet]

Why is this guy still in office? There needs to be a law or procedure to remove him. He should be personally responsible for public funds he has used for his defense. He is a disgrace to his state and our country.


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Posted by Baileycc at 01:43 AM : Feb 14, 2008
+ report abuse

THAT would take the support of the Fascist Republican''s... they aren''t going to expose themselves anymore than they already have. Sieg Heil Bush

[johngoodnews]

...the measure with which you measure shall be measured out to you...Why is it that so many derive so much pleasure from flocking like screaming magpies around the tattered corpse of Craig''s life? That''s more disturbing to me than Craig trying to fill some void in his life in a restroom.

[slim1h2o]

It does not escape notice that Nambla, oops! er, the Republicans aren''''t calling for investigations into the misuse of campaign funds...

Posted by brianbwb at 06:53 AM : Feb 14, 2008

They should be! Using campaign funds, for legal expenses should be illegal. And further more,,any left over campaign funds ought to be handed over to a homeless shelter, or some other charity.

If that was the case, maybe the politicians would work on some of the issues regarding homelessness, and other problems that we have. Other than tying up time, and money to listen to roid use in Baseball.

[demslie]

Congressman William Jefferson (d) of LA has been indicted for Federal Bribery after being caught on video tape by the FBI. He is still in office and not one Democrat alive says anything about it. Jefferson recently got an award from Congress for his achievements. Craig plays footsie in an Airport bathroom, just like all the Democrat ******* do, but Craig has to leave office, not Jefferson. Typical Democrap situational ethics. The so-called "Ethic Committee" only cares about prosecuting Republicans. The law does not apply to Democrats. And this is how they are going to run the country?

[brianbwb-2009]

"Why is it that so many derive so much pleasure from flocking like screaming magpies around the tattered corpse of Craig''''s life? That''''s more disturbing to me than Craig trying to fill some void in his life in a restroom." Posted by johngoodnews

This man''s grandchildren will be richer than you will ever hope to be, the "tattered corpse" to which you refer is not only very much alive, but is dressed in finery you cannot afford, paid in part from your children''s future.

Craig won''t miss a single steak, or glass of champagne, there will be no restitution for his misdeeds and corruptions other than a meaningless "rebuke", and you feel sorry for this scum?

[pollroller1]

This man is one of our kings. He is set for life and so is his family for years to come. All off of the backs of us taxpayers.
And you know what? There''s not anything we can do about it. Put someone else in his place? They will be just as bad if not worse.