Republicans call for Sen. Craig to quit after men’s room incident

WASHINGTON (AP) ‘ Idaho Sen. Larry Craig is finding himself increasingly isolated from his political allies as more Republicans call for him to resign over his arrest in an airport men’s room.

A spokesman for Craig denied widespread speculation in Washington that the three-term senator ‘ up for re-election next year ‘ was preparing to quit.

Republican Senate leaders pushed Craig from senior committee positions. A White House spokesman expressed disappointment in the 62-year-old lawmaker, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge stemming from an undercover police operation last June in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.

Others in the GOP were more harsh. ‘Senator Craig pled guilty to a crime involving conduct unbecoming a senator,’ said Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. ‘He should resign.’

Coleman, who faces a tough race for re-election next year, also turned over to charity a $2,500 campaign donation he received two months ago from Craig’s political action committee.

Craig ‘represents the Republican Party,’ said Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, who called the behavior unacceptable and was the first in a steadily lengthening list of GOP members of Congress calling on Craig to quit.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also urged Craig to step down, as did a handful of Republican House members, including Jeff Miller and Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Mark Souder of Indiana, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Ron Lewis of Kentucky.

Craig is cooperating with Senate leaders by stepping aside as the senior Republican on the Veteran Affairs committee and from his position on two subcommittees, Smith said.

Craig said Tuesday he had committed no wrongdoing and shouldn’t have pleaded guilty. He said he had only recently retained a lawyer to advise him in the case.

Craig was arrested June 11 in a Minneapolis airport men’s room after an undercover officer observed conduct that he said was ‘often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct.’ He pleaded guilty by mail this month to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.