Despite ruling, Craig says he will finish out his term

Sen. Larry Craig (R) said Thursday he would finish his full term before retiring, his choice revealed hours after a Minnesota judge denied the Idahoan’s bid to withdraw his guilty plea in the bathroom sex sting that upended his career.

{mosads}Craig’s determination to stay in the Senate for another year leaves GOP leaders mulling their next move. The ethics committee has asserted jurisdiction over Craig’s alleged homosexual solicitation, leaving the door open for public hearings on his conduct or any stronger measures — such as censure or expulsion — that Republicans may seek to pursue.

“As I continued to work for Idaho over the past three weeks here in the Senate, I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively,” Craig said in a statement, adding that he would push to “clear my name in the Senate Ethics Committee — something that is not possible if I am not serving in the Senate.”

In a 27-page order, Judge Charles Porter of Minnesota’s Hennepin County court rejected the argument from Craig’s legal team that not allowing him to withdraw his guilty plea would be a “manifest injustice.” Calling Craig’s August admission of disorderly conduct in a Minneapolis airport bathroom “accurate, voluntary and intelligent,” Porter wrote, “[T]he conviction is supported by the evidence.”

Craig and his legal team said he is examining his options, and supportive home-state colleague Sen. Mike Crapo (R) said he believes Craig plans to appeal the case. Whether Craig can ride out the Senate storm remains unclear.

“I’d expect and hope that the ethics committee would let Sen. Craig resolve the legal issues in Minneapolis” before ramping up an investigation, Crapo said. Still, he acknowledged that the ongoing legal battle is a distraction for Craig in his work on behalf of Idaho, particularly his loss of seniority on three committees.

The reactions of Craig’s Republican colleagues spoke volumes about the awkward year ahead for the GOP conference.
“Does anybody have a different question?” Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who has become one of Craig’s most vocal defenders, asked reporters who trailed him with questions about Craig.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) abruptly canceled an afternoon press conference after Porter ruled, heading off Craig questions at the pass. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), general chairman of the Republican National Committee, declined to comment.

“I’m going to leave that to Sen. Craig,” Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said when asked for comment on his longtime ally’s decision to stay in the Capitol.

The scandal that began with the revelation of Craig’s June arrest for disorderly conduct has become a distraction for Senate Republicans, who are preparing for a spending fight and grappling with four retiring members. Craig’s reaction to the ruling is certain to bring more resignation pressure from frustrated GOP leaders who had pressed him to step aside last week as originally planned.

“It’s hard to imagine Sen. Craig’s colleagues and constituents would have anything but resentment for him at this point,” one GOP aide said. “Beyond the immediate political liability, he’s misled them so many times that even if they were able to get past this episode, it’s hard to believe they could ever trust him again.”

Should Craig continue on until the start of the 2008 race, his refusal to step aside this fall could make the campaign more difficult for the GOP nominee.

Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch (R) had emerged as the front-runner for a gubernatorial appointment to replace Craig, but the advantage of serving out a partial term now appears out of reach for Risch. Former Rep. Larry LaRocco (D) already has begun his campaign for Craig’s seat.