Craig Issues Statement: "I Should Not Have Pled Guilty"
We've just received a copy of the statement that GOP Senator Larry Craig has been promising in response to the news that he was arrested for lewd conduct in a men's room. Here is Craig's statement, courtesy of his spokesman:
"At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions. I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."
How his actions were misconstrued -- and what the actual intentions of those actions were -- is not explained.
Late Update: CNN reports that Craig and his family are currently on vacation and that he has no intention of speaking publicly at this time.
Comments (52)
scooter in brooklyn wrote on August 27, 2007 6:47 PM:yeah, the dog ate my homework too.
Dennis wrote on August 27, 2007 6:50 PM:I've been in probably hundreds of public restrooms in my life and NEVER has another man touched my shoe or put his hand underneath the dividing wall. Craig was cruising for sex, plain and simple. He's toast. More Christian conservative family values on display.
along wrote on August 27, 2007 6:56 PM:umm...arrested June 11 for lewd conduct... pleaded guilty two months later, Aug. 8, to disorderly conduct. and yet he never retained a lawyer.
I hope Larry has a happy retirement, at least.
r€nato wrote on August 27, 2007 6:57 PM:In related news, the RNC announced that all future GOP primaries will be held in public restrooms, in order to boost turnout...
r€nato wrote on August 27, 2007 6:58 PM:I hope Larry has a happy retirement, at least.
he sure will. He'll finally get to do that coast-to-coast men's room tour.
rakastal wrote on August 27, 2007 7:00 PM:Anyone have a guess as to why Larry has a wide stance?
lili von schtupp wrote on August 27, 2007 7:00 PM:go to this website to find out what liberal idahoans are saying! http://www.neurolux.com/thread.cfm?threadid=16571&messages=429
manu wrote on August 27, 2007 7:01 PM:I forgot Diaper Vitter on the list of kinky Republicans. So here it is again:
- Rudy Giuliani, drag queen enthusiast;
- Rep. Mark Foley, House Pages enthusiast;
- Sen. David Vitter, diaper fetishist and all-around hooker enthusiast;
- Sen. Larry Craig, bathroom cruising enthusiast;
- Ken Mehlman;
- Karl 'Miss Piggy' Rove;
- That other bathroom cruising enthusiast in Florida;
- The one and only Ted "besides I don't like Meth" Haggard;
To be fair, there's been rumors about Larry Craig for a while. I wonder what that other towering Idaho figure Rep. Bill Sali would say about this. Given Sali's past statements, one would surmise that he too likes to party...
LiarLiarIraqsOnFire wrote on August 27, 2007 7:05 PM:Eeeeeewww! More Repug Toilet Tramps trolling for anonymous sexual encounters in public places outside the Covenant of Holy Marriage. At least it wasn't with a child, a cadaver or animal - how low can they go?
Hypocracy, thy party affiliation is Republican!
sniflheim wrote on August 27, 2007 7:09 PM:Guilty means guilty? What a country.
chefrad wrote on August 27, 2007 7:11 PM:
I think this goes back to what "is" is.
Seantor Craig's Men's Room misbehavior was "misconstrued."
That happens to all of us. Mark Foley's shadows on the bathroom wall were forever being misinterpreted, just as my cans of whipped cream were being repeatedly confiscated from my Thai ceiling basket.
In Virginia a person can try to withdraw a plea w/in 21 days of conviction. someone should ask the spokesperson if Craig will seek to w/draw the guilty plea and try the case. Perhaps the plea can be appealed and he can have a trial de novo in the court above the misdemeanor court.
Just trying to help since Craig went without counsel.
Wait a minute - he plead guilty to lewd behavior in a public bathroom so he could get the matter out of the way? Rrrrrrriiiiiiiiiigggggghhhhhhhtt....
SopRob wrote on August 27, 2007 7:31 PM:The USER GENERATED INNTELLIGENCE of the web will catch them all soon enough. Times are changing and one day soon truth will matter more than issues.
A. Non wrote on August 27, 2007 7:32 PM:manu wrote on August 27, 2007 7:01 PM:
- Rudy Giuliani, drag queen enthusiast;
- Rep. Mark Foley, House Pages enthusiast;
- Sen. David Vitter, diaper fetishist and all-around hooker enthusiast;
- Sen. Larry Craig, bathroom cruising enthusiast;
- Ken Mehlman;
- Karl 'Miss Piggy' Rove;
- That other bathroom cruising enthusiast in Florida;
- The one and only Ted "besides I don't like Meth" Haggard;
Don't forget Duke "Big Pimpin" Cunningham!
What's happened to the EC threads? No chance to reply to comments?
Jimbo wrote on August 27, 2007 7:44 PM:And don't forget about Jeff Gannon aka J.D. Guckert.
jbd wrote on August 27, 2007 7:45 PM:I agree that hypocrisy is bad. But don't you feel kinda sorry for him? Imagine the guilt and self-loathing. What a sad life.
sukitcraig wrote on August 27, 2007 7:46 PM:All those potential lives you've eaten in the past shame on you, life eater,sperm guzzling, stall stinkin', hillbilly, cocksuckin, homo, asshole licking, ball bastin (as in Thanksgiving). What were you thinkin?
HeyThatsNoTrunk! wrote on August 27, 2007 7:47 PM:Forget the party of the big tent. They're the party of the big closet. Is Crag subject to Megan's law?
donviti wrote on August 27, 2007 7:49 PM:translation:
I am guilty as shit and at the time was as embarrassed as hell that I got caught. But after talking to some lawyers and colleagues they told me I was a dumbass to plead guilty and should have gotten my lawyer right away.
Rich wrote on August 27, 2007 8:05 PM:I won't even ask if Craig inhaled.
Bernard Gilroy wrote on August 27, 2007 8:25 PM:Someone should check his voting and speaking record. I'd lay money he's inveigled against people going free for "technicalities" like being denied counsel... Betcha the Sixth Amendment looks less like a loophole to him now.
jawbone wrote on August 27, 2007 8:25 PM:This is getting to be a new GOP pattern: The perp/outed pol hides for several days, next will be the presser with supportive wife--and then ignore all questions. The David Vitter Disposable Diaper Defense--see? All gone! You ain't got no shit on me about nuthin'.
jawbone wrote on August 27, 2007 8:26 PM:Oh, and don't forget the wide stance....
KYJurisDoctor wrote on August 27, 2007 8:39 PM:The "Log cabin" MUST be filling up!
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/log-cabin-fills-up-as-idaho-u-s.html#links
ocdemocrat wrote on August 27, 2007 8:47 PM:Don't take much brains to be a Senator these days. Craig finds himself in legal trouble, and doesn't try to consult a lawyer.
Man, if he can't figure out what to do in regular day to day life, how can any allow this doufus to represent them in IMPORTANT issues. It looks like Craig is his own idiot; no need for outside opinions, whether it be for himself or his state's or country's benefit.
That would be my only conclusion of someone under arrest who does not ask legal help in 2 months between arrest and pleading.
An idiot, or a lying sack of sh t!!
Chaz wrote on August 27, 2007 10:22 PM:Since can cops call an airline to have them "hold" a flight? Can I do that? Or do I have to be a senator
Kman wrote on August 27, 2007 10:31 PM:A self-confessed member of the Kakistocracy.
How many more Senators are so dumb they would plead guilty to similar charges without consulting an attorney?
OK, so another holier than thou Christian family Values hypocrite gets outed. This begs the questions. Is it more blessed to give than recieve?
TheOtherWA wrote on August 27, 2007 10:34 PM:How did the MN media not know a sitting US Senator was arrested in their state? Arrest records are supposed to be public information.
Gee, you don't think Craig getting arrested in a state with an R governor and lots of R legislators had anything to do with it, do ya?
bmaz wrote on August 27, 2007 10:40 PM:There is not one chance in hell that he did this without the advice of an attorney. Just because they tried to slide it through a municipal or minor justice court of some kind without drawing attention to it and there was no counsel of record on the plea DOES NOT mean he did not consult an attorney. Take it to the bank that he consulted an attorney.
Ennis Del Mar wrote on August 27, 2007 10:52 PM:What are the chances that a judge would allow a defendant to plead guilty w/o an attorney present? I'm no lawyer, but I'd have to say this is impossible. I've heard of judges refusing to accept guilty pleas from defendants who are trying to have it both ways...you know like saying, 'I'm pleading guilty even though I'm not'. Any DFH attorneys out there? Could his guilty plea be thrown out by the judge now that Craig has made the public statements that he has?
busboy33 wrote on August 27, 2007 10:58 PM:Pet peeve for the post at TPM --
The past tense of plea is pled. Not pleaded. I recognize that the MSM has given up on the english language, but please don't do it here. I still respect TPM.
Sorry. Its been driving me nuts for a few years now, and this post was the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm better now.
DC wrote on August 27, 2007 11:08 PM:jbd wrote on August 27, 2007 7:45 PM:
I agree that hypocrisy is bad. But don't you feel kinda sorry for him? Imagine the guilt and self-loathing. What a sad life.
Craig is yet another "moral christian" who has consistently voted against gay rights and voted for the defense of marriage amendment. I personally don't care how somebody gets their kicks, but these "holier than thou" types who think that they can legislate morality make me sick when this type of stuff comes out.
Do you have to be a pervert, sex offender, or biggot to get on the GOP ticket? Sure looks that way...
kaliman wrote on August 27, 2007 11:19 PM:From what I've heard Larry Craig has a voting record that's not too bad for a Republican in a Red state. I'd hate to lose him to a real Bush loyalist.
In addition let's ask ourselves whether gay or bi men in Idaho really have the option to be "out." Venues for public contact among gay men are probably few (church potlucks, anyone?).
bmaz wrote on August 27, 2007 11:25 PM:Ennis Del Mar - Unless you are certified as mentally incompetent, the court cannot generally force you to be represented by counsel. The court must, however, insure that you are knowingly and intelligently waiving your right to be represented by counsel, and does so on the record before accepting your plea. For this reason, there will be no voiding of the plea on that basis. As I said above though, I will wager any amount of money you want that Craig had the advice and assistance of an attorney in making his decision; simply because there was no counsel of record on the plea does not mean he didn't consult one.
busboy33 - I have seen both terms used in the legal profession by very competent people. I prefer "pled" simply because it is less unwieldy.
Nick wrote on August 28, 2007 12:24 AM:What are the odds that we'll see "Sen. Craig (D-ID)" on the FoxNews ticker tomorrow?
&1 wrote on August 28, 2007 1:33 AM:busboy33: take a look at this...
http://www.word.com/collegiate/archives/2006/10/from_the_mail_s_12.html
jehrler wrote on August 28, 2007 1:55 AM:As I mentioned in the other thread, Craig was *not* arrested for just tapping his foot, etc. to the policeman.
That policeman had been called to investigate because, as Roll Call says, the "plainclothes police officer [was] investigating lewd conduct complaints."
So at least one member of the public had been approached by Craig for "lewd conduct" or had witnessed/overhead such conduct.
So, part of the reason for the plea could well be that Craig did not want to have whatever was alleged by the original witness come to light at trial.
Seems to me this would be a good followup. Was there a written complaint and, if so, what activity was Craig alleged to have engaged in *prior* to the activity with the policeman?
Helpknot wrote on August 28, 2007 2:13 AM:There are bathhouses and sexclubs in most of the major cities in this country for that kind of behaviour. It is pathetic that he cannot summon the courage and self respect to at least take it to one of those venues.
bmaz wrote on August 28, 2007 2:19 AM:jehrier - My understanding is that has been a long term problem with that type of activity in that restroom of that airport; like for many years. The airport detail apparently routinely runs stings there now. The prior complaints did not necessarily involve Craig.
jehrler wrote on August 28, 2007 2:29 AM:bmaz - You may be right but it would be nice to know. It certainly sounds like it was a current complaint based on the wording of the Roll Call piece.
raincntry wrote on August 28, 2007 9:13 AM:I will say that after reading the officer's affidavit the evidence supporting the contention that it was a lewd act is fairly weak. I'm a lawyer who does post-conviction work almost exclusively so I can say that Sen. Craig is going to have a hell of a time pulling that plea. I would have advised my client to take it to trial but I suppose a sitting Senator would want to avoid the publicity of a trail. My guess is that he thought the plea would sort of miss the news and when it didn't he freaked.
oobi wrote on August 28, 2007 9:49 AM:Schedenfreud aside, what really has me interested is the timeline here. Something at which ATM excels. Why now? If the Idaho Statesman was following rumors and leads re: the Sen. behavior for months prior to his arrest, why are we only just hearing about his arrest two months after the fact? To say that the Gov of MN is a R is just not defensible. Was there a cover-up involving the Gov? Local law enforcement? The U.S. Senate? An investigation is in order. Here's hoping TPM midwest bureau is currently working on this.
r€nato wrote on August 28, 2007 10:47 AM:raincntry, good points but at this point I think it's irrelevant whether he can get the plea pulled or not; he's guilty in the public's mind and I have no doubt whatsoever he'll be spending more time with his family in 2009.
csp wrote on August 28, 2007 12:07 PM:On the consult of attorney issue, here is something from "War Room" at Salon:
Update: Craig's claim that he pled guilty in error because he didn't have a lawyer advising him at the time? As Roll Call reports, police records show that Craig returned to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in late June -- 11 days after his arrest but nearly two months before he pled guilty -- and asked about a police contact so that "his lawyer can speak to someone."
zk0sm0 wrote on August 28, 2007 12:40 PM:the bottom line is that craig would not have pleaded* guilty if he wasn't trying to solicit a sexual encounter. in all likelihood he pleaded guilty to avoid going to trial on more serious/damaging charges. based on the police report, if he had gone to trial (especially on more serious charges) he could very well have won a not guilty verdict. but 'not guilty' is not the same as 'innocent'. the decision to plead guilty was almost certainly more of a political decision than a legal decision.
*Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
plead (v.)
The past tense is pleaded, pled, or plead (this last pronounced PLED), and the past participle, pleaded, pled, or plead (PLED). Pleaded, the regular weak verb form, is more frequent for both parts of speech, and the pled and plead past and past participle forms are labeled Colloquial by some dictionaries, Standard by others.
Plead not guilty and plead guilty are Standard idioms (His lawyer advised him to plead not guilty [guilty]), and the media almost always uses pled to report a defendant’s actions: The defendant pled [not] guilty.
The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press.
I don't understand how tapping your foot on the bathroom floor, or waving to the negihbor is "lewd misconduct".
rofl - I guess there is a whole underground "signalling" system for this sort of thing.
Nonetheless, I sometimes tap my feet on the hard tile bathroom floor ( not anymore! yikes! ) , as I'm sure others do. I can't say I've waved under the stall to someone next door, but if they did or talk or say something who knows a person might do that.
I don't know if this congressman is guilty, but then again I'm not up on all the "signals for lewd hookups" ... LOL
Wow.
Now tapping a foot and waving a hand is "the means for your arrest".
I think that's wrong.
From what I see, the only real difference between republicans and democrats on this type of issue is you already know what you're getting when you vote democrat. I'm really of the opinion that you can't really trust anybody that holds/aspires to government office. The US government has become a case of the lunatics running the asylum.
gonzo wrote on August 30, 2007 2:47 PM:Thatnk you all for 'coming out' to my coming out party.
I want to be clear, I am not a queer!
I did not have sex with that man, or that man, or that man, or that man, or that man, or that man.
Now THAT man is cute!
Dennis wrote: "More Christian conservative family values on display."
This is no more a display of Christian family values than Mike Tyson's chewing on ears is a display of black people's dietary preferences. Larry Craig (if guilty) is simply a person who has broken the law. No more, no less.
