Craig ruling postponed as he puts off resignation

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (R) will get an answer no sooner than next week on his bid to overturn his guilty plea in Minnesota court, leaving his political future in limbo and GOP leaders with no choice but to accept his continued presence on the Hill.

{mosads}After a 30-minute hearing Wednesday on Craig’s motion to withdraw his disorderly conduct plea, Judge Charles Porter of Hennepin County court said he would not issue a final ruling until next week at the earliest.

National media crowded the tiny courthouse in Edina, Minn., in anticipation of a judgment for Craig, but the Idahoan said he would wait to resign his seat until Porter rules.

“Today was a major step in the legal effort to clear my name,” Craig said through his spokesman. “The court has not issued a ruling on my motion to withdraw my guilty plea. For now, I will continue my work in the United States Senate for Idaho.”

While Craig originally announced his intention to resign his seat on Sunday, he signaled more recently that he would stay in office until his legal fight is complete. The postponed ruling from Judge Porter suggests that Craig will remain on the Hill until the case is resolved — with senior Republicans facing another round of uncomfortable questions about their continued insistence that the Idahoan step down.

Craig counsel Billy Martin, who represented football star Michael Vick in his dogfighting case, expressed confidence in his team’s argument that the senator signed a plea document out of panic that his airport sex sting arrest would become public. Martin said he asked Porter to allow a jury to hear Craig’s case and consider whether to clear him of all charges.

“The arrest of any citizen raises very serious constitutional questions, especially when that citizen says that he is innocent and pled guilty in an attempt to avoid public embarrassment,” Martin said in a statement. “Senator Craig, like every other American citizen, deserves the full protection of our laws.”

Craig’s Idaho colleague, Sen. Mike Crapo (R), supports Craig’s decision to remain in the Senate. In a released statement, Crapo said, “He, like every citizen facing allegations, deserves to be able to fully defend himself. Senator Craig has demonstrated outstanding leadership and tireless service to the state of Idaho for nearly three decades. Idahoans deserve to continue to benefit from Senator Craig’s experience and expertise. I look forward to continuing to serve with him in representing Idaho in the U.S. Senate.”

Prosecutors for the Minneapolis airport, where Craig is accused of soliciting sex from an undercover officer, also told The Associated Press that they believe the judge will uphold Craig’s guilty plea.