Fallout Continues From Craig's Vow To Stay In Senate
BOISE AND WASHINGTON -- Senator Larry Craig's lawyer says he's
confident the Idaho lawmaker can continue in his job because his
guilty plea in an airport bathroom sex sting was only to a misdemeanor.
Stanley Brand tells NBC's "Today Show" that in the Senate's
220-year history, no one's been disciplined for a misdemeanor not
connected to official duties.
The embattled Idaho Republican initially said he planned to step down by the end of last month after his guilty plea became public.
But yesterday, he vowed to serve out the last 15 months of his Senate term -- after a Minnesota judge rejected his effort to withdraw his guilty plea, which Craig says he made in a panic because of a pending Idaho Statesman newspaper investigative report.
"I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively," Craig said in a statement Thursday.
Idaho's congressional delegation is supportive of Craig and Friday, the Idaho Republican Party also went on the record with support.
"Senator Craig has served the people of Idaho with distinction for more than 27 years," said Idaho Republican Party Chairman J. Kirk Sullivan in a statement. "Senator Craig has chosen, and has the right, as each of us do, to pursue his legal options to clear his good name. Our thoughts continue to be with Senator Craig and his family who have made many sacrifices in order to serve this great State.
"In the meantime, we need to move forward to do what is best for the citizens of Idaho. I am confident Idaho's Congressional Delegation can continue to effectively represent the best interests of Idahoans in our nation's capitol."
But Craig's move has left Republicans who want him gone with the choice of pressuring Craig to leave or basically ignoring him for months.
Sen. John Ensign of Nevada says Craig hurts the entire Senate by staying put.
"So I think it is best for the U.S. Senate , best for certainly his party, that he just keeps his word," Ensign told reporters Thursday. "He gave us his word that he would do something. He's backing out on it and I don't think it's the right thing to do."
Ensign chairs the GOP campaign committee overseeing next year's senate elections.
Some in the Republican Party say Craig's bathroom sex scandal will be a blot on the GOP's traditional family values campaign.
One Republican facing a tough re-election campaign, Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, said, "I would hope that (Craig) would live up to what he said he would do and not put the Senate through the wringer on this."
The White House is staying out of the Craig bathroom scandal with a deputy press secretary saying it's a matter between Craig, his constituents, and his colleagues in the Senate.
(CBS News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
confident the Idaho lawmaker can continue in his job because his
guilty plea in an airport bathroom sex sting was only to a misdemeanor.
Stanley Brand tells NBC's "Today Show" that in the Senate's
220-year history, no one's been disciplined for a misdemeanor not
connected to official duties.
The embattled Idaho Republican initially said he planned to step down by the end of last month after his guilty plea became public.
But yesterday, he vowed to serve out the last 15 months of his Senate term -- after a Minnesota judge rejected his effort to withdraw his guilty plea, which Craig says he made in a panic because of a pending Idaho Statesman newspaper investigative report.
"I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively," Craig said in a statement Thursday.
Idaho's congressional delegation is supportive of Craig and Friday, the Idaho Republican Party also went on the record with support.
"Senator Craig has served the people of Idaho with distinction for more than 27 years," said Idaho Republican Party Chairman J. Kirk Sullivan in a statement. "Senator Craig has chosen, and has the right, as each of us do, to pursue his legal options to clear his good name. Our thoughts continue to be with Senator Craig and his family who have made many sacrifices in order to serve this great State.
"In the meantime, we need to move forward to do what is best for the citizens of Idaho. I am confident Idaho's Congressional Delegation can continue to effectively represent the best interests of Idahoans in our nation's capitol."
But Craig's move has left Republicans who want him gone with the choice of pressuring Craig to leave or basically ignoring him for months.
Sen. John Ensign of Nevada says Craig hurts the entire Senate by staying put.
"So I think it is best for the U.S. Senate , best for certainly his party, that he just keeps his word," Ensign told reporters Thursday. "He gave us his word that he would do something. He's backing out on it and I don't think it's the right thing to do."
Ensign chairs the GOP campaign committee overseeing next year's senate elections.
Some in the Republican Party say Craig's bathroom sex scandal will be a blot on the GOP's traditional family values campaign.
One Republican facing a tough re-election campaign, Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, said, "I would hope that (Craig) would live up to what he said he would do and not put the Senate through the wringer on this."
The White House is staying out of the Craig bathroom scandal with a deputy press secretary saying it's a matter between Craig, his constituents, and his colleagues in the Senate.
(CBS News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
