How very convenient. Former Sen. Larry Craig, the anti-gay and de-closeted senator arrested last year for trying to pick up another man in an airport bathroom, drops his long-shot appeal of his sex-sting conviction. The same week he returns to Idaho.
The Minnesota courts have denied the Idaho Republican's appeals asking that he be allowed to withdraw his disorderly conduct guilty plea, which was processed by mail much like a traffic ticket.
Another appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court would have been fruitless, because the case did not raise significant or novel issues, Craig's attorney Thomas Kelly said.
The conservative senator was outed when he was arrested June 11, 2007. An undercover police officer was conducting a sting operation against men cruising for sex at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Craig quietly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a fine, but changed his mind after his arrest became public.
Craig denies he was trolling for sex or is gay. Since his well-publicized arrest, five gay men have come forward and described having (messy) sex with or—being propositioned by—the de-closeted right-wing senator.
Ex-Senator Craig Accepts Sex Sting Plea [Reuters]
More LARRY CRAIG
More REPUBLICANS
Some Background ...
A Tale of Two Cities [Advocate]
Adulterers Craig and Vitter Co-Sponsor Marriage Amendment [R20]
5 Gay Men Describe Sexual Encounters with Craig [R20]
"Romney Threw Me Under the Bus" [R20]
Senate Republicans Knew About "Closeted" Larry Craig's "Weird Problem" [R20]
Larry Craig Vows to Remain in Office [R20]
Larry Craig Pays a Surprise Visit to Senate [R20]
News: Larry Craig Latest, David Vitter [R20]
Larry Craig Latest: "Not Guilty!" [R20]
Craig Latest: Wasn't Going to Run for Re-Election [R20]
Craig Latest: Maybe I Won't Resign After All [R20]
Craig Resigns Senate Seat [R20]
Gosh, my native-Idaho-heart swells with pride. Or something. (cough.)
Posted by: Andy Niable | 08 January 2009 at 23:15
He can come out and turn this around. In some strange way, his actions would be understood
Posted by: Viktor | 11 January 2009 at 01:47