Sen. Craig resigns over men’s room incident

‘I apologize for what I have caused. I am deeply sorry,’ Craig said, his wife Suzanne at his side.

Craig’s resignation completed a stunning downfall that began Monday with the disclosure that he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge following his arrest during a sex sting in a Minneapolis airport men’s room.

Although leading members of his own party had called for him to step down, Craig steadfastly resisted resigning for days, contending he had done nothing wrong and that his only mistake was pleading guilty Aug. 1 to a misdemeanor charge.

President Bush called Craig from the White House after the senator’s announcement and told him he knew it was a difficult decision to make, said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

‘Senator Craig made the right decision for himself, for his family, his constituents and the United States Senate,’ Stanzel said.

Craig was arrested June 11 in a police undercover vice operation in a men’s room at the Minneapolis airport. The arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, said in his report that the restroom is a known location for homosexual activity.

‘I am not gay. I never have been gay,’ Craig said defiantly after a news conference Tuesday. He said he had kept the incident from aides, friends and family and pleaded guilty ‘in hopes of making it go away.’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other GOP leaders asked Craig to give up his senior positions on Senate committees on Wednesday, a day after they asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate his actions.

Craig, 62, represented Idaho in Congress for more than a quarter-century and was up for re-election next year. He had not said if he would run for a fourth term in 2008 and had been expected to announce his plans this fall.

‘It is with sadness and deep regret that I announce it is my intent to resign from the Senate effective Sept. 30,’ Craig said, with his wife again at his side and Idaho Gov. C.L. ‘Butch’ Otter standing behind him.

‘For any public official at this moment in time to be standing with Larry Craig is in itself a humbling experience,’ Craig said.

Otter said Saturday he has not chosen a replacement, although several Republicans familiar with internal deliberations said he favored Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Risch. He called speculation that he has made a choice ‘dead wrong.’

Craig opposes gay marriage and has a strong record against gay rights. He was a leading voice in the Senate on gun issues and Western lands.

Craig has faced rumors about his sexuality since the 1980s. He has called assertions that he has engaged in gay sex ridiculous.