Larry Craig scandal
On June 11, 2007, Larry Craig, a Republican United States Senator from Idaho, was arrested for lewd conduct in a men's restroom at the Minneapolis–St.
After subsequent failed efforts to withdraw his guilty plea, on October 4, he released a statement refusing to resign from the Senate.
The police officer made the following observations, which he recorded in his report of the incident, as to what happened next: At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot.
Craig also disputed the officer's assertion about the position of his hand, claiming that his right palm was faced down as he picked up the paper from the floor.
[10] Craig pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct by signing and mailing a plea petition, dated August 1, 2007, to the Hennepin County District Court in Minnesota.
[11] On October 17, 2006, gay rights activist Michael Rogers reported on sexual liaisons between Craig and unnamed individuals in Washington, D.C.'s Union Station.
[16] After the conviction came to light, the Idaho Statesman published a story on August 28, 2007, about three allegations involving Craig's sexual conduct.
[17] The last reported incident to the Idaho Statesman about Craig's conduct came from a 40-year-old man with close ties to Republican officials.
"[17] Craig told the public that the officer misconstrued his actions, that he was not involved in any inappropriate conduct, and had failed to seek legal counsel: "In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty.
Paul Airport Police Department released an audiotape of Craig's interview with Sergeant Dave Karsnia, the arresting officer.
Coleman and Senator Susan Collins (ME) announced that they would donate campaign contributions received from Craig's political action committee to charity.
Ensign, for the Republicans, denied the double standard, saying on ABC that Craig had pleaded guilty to a crime while Vitter was only accused.
Senator Arlen Specter, then (R-PA), encouraged Craig to fight to withdraw his guilty plea, concluding on Fox News Sunday "I think he could be vindicated."
[30] Senate GOP leaders including Mitch McConnell (KY) and Trent Lott (MS) asked Craig to "temporarily step down as the top Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests."
[31] Patrick Sammon, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, issued a statement condemning the senator's actions.
On September 4, 2007, a spokesperson for Craig indicated that he was reconsidering his decision to resign,[33] if his conviction was rapidly overturned and his committee assignments were restored.
[34] On September 10, 2007, Craig's attorneys filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that it "was not knowing and intelligent and therefore was in violation of his constitutional rights.
"[35] His lawyers further argued that Craig "felt compelled to grasp the lifeline," hoping that if he were to submit to an interview and plead guilty that none of the allegations would be made public.
[36] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an amicus curiae brief stating that the secret sting operation used by the police was not "carefully crafted" to avoid ensnaring innocent speech and that "the defendant should be permitted to withdraw his plea, and, should the state recharge him, to contest the constitutional validity of any prosecution.
[41] On September 26, 2007, Craig released a statement that he would remain in office until the Hennepin County District Court judge ruled on his motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
[43] As part of Craig's appeal of this ruling, the ACLU filed a brief that cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling from 38 years earlier finding that those engaging in sexual encounters in closed stalls in otherwise public restrooms "have a reasonable expectation of privacy," a finding that the ACLU argued would contradict the state's claim that Craig was inviting the undercover officer to have sex "in public.
[49] A Craig spokesman responded, "Mike Jones is lying in order to sell his book [about Ted Haggard]—plain and simple.
In an August 2012 filing, Craig's lawyer Andrew Herman wrote "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel"; the filing cited an FEC ruling that allowed former Congressman Jim Kolbe to use campaign funds for his legal defense in the Mark Foley scandal.
[56][57] Both the 2009 documentary Outrage and Newsweek's June 7, 2010 issue's Back Story listed Craig as one of several prominent conservative politicians who had a record of anti-gay legislation and was later caught in a gay sex scandal.
A New York City councilman is shown "foot tapping" and runs his hand under the wall of the stall occupied by Lupo (Jeremy Sisto).
had a parody of The J. Geils Band's "Centerfold", entitled "My Men's Room Date's a Senator",[61][62] which refers to the incident.
The Broadway musical Spamalot produced a comedic climatic skit with the knights peeling off their armor to reveal tutus and singing and dancing to "Wide Stance."
