Craig Vows to Stay Despite Court Loss

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is shown during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in this May 25, 2006, file photo. A Minnesota judge on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, rejected Sen. Craig's bid to withdraw his guilty plea in an airport sex sting, a major setback in Craig's effort to clear his name and hang onto his Senate seat. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, FILE) (Charles Dharapak - AP)

"We are, of course, disappointed with the ruling issued today," Martin said in his statement. "Senator Larry Craig maintains that he is innocent and there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that he is guilty. Thus, we renew our arguments that it is manifestly unjust to deny Senator Craig's request to withdraw his guilty plea. Senator Craig continues his steadfast denial that any inappropriate behavior took place at the airport.

"He is currently considering whether to appeal this decision. Throughout this trying time, Senator Craig has remained a dedicated public servant and continues to serve the people of Idaho with honor and distinction, as he has done for the past 27 years," Martin said.

Craig shocked the Senate in late August when it was disclosed that he had quietly pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct after being arrested by an undercover police officer.

The officer said Craig had exhibited behavior consistent with seeking a sexual encounter in a men's room at the Minneapolis airport.

Craig said he had panicked when arrested, and admitted guilt because an Idaho newspaper had been aggressively investigating allegations that he was gay.

Emphatically denying that was the case, Craig hired lawyers and announced plans to seek the withdrawal of the plea.

"I am extremely disappointed with the ruling issued today," he said in his written statement. "I am innocent of the charges against me."

Craig added that over five terms in the House and three in the Senate, "I have accumulated seniority and important committee assignments that are valuable to Idaho."

He did not mention that at the request of the leadership, he relinquished the senior Republican posts on his committees.

Craig says his actions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport bathroom June 11 were misconstrued by the police officer who arrested him.

The officer said Craig had looked into his bathroom stall, and tapped his foot and moved his hand under the divider in a way that suggested he was looking for a sexual partner.

Craig denied that in an interview with the officer after his arrest. But he pleaded guilty on Aug. 8. He later said he "panicked" in entering his plea, believing that it would keep the matter quiet. The Idaho Statesman had been holding back an article on rumors about his sexuality, and Craig said in court papers that he feared the arrest would trigger the story.

Porter rejected that as a good reason to withdraw the plea. Any pressure Craig was under "was entirely perceived by the defendant and was not a result of any action by the police, the prosecutor, or the court," he said.

Minnesota law allows a plea to be withdrawn if a "manifest injustice" occurs, but leaves it to judges to define that. Porter ruled that none occurred in Craig's case.

"It is not a manifest injustice to force the defendant to be bound by his plea bargain and the waivers and admissions which he made in conjunction with the execution of that bargain," Porter wrote.

He also wrote that Craig hadn't produced any "newly discovered evidence" that would clear him.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Craig's closest ally in the Senate, said Craig "has the right to pursue his legal options as does any citizen, and I support his effort. I look forward to serving with him as we continue to work on issues important to Idaho."

___

Associated Press writers John Miller in Boise, Patrick Condon in Minneapolis and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.