Friday, January 9, 2009
Kris Alingod - AHN Contributor Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, whose term ended last Saturday, has dropped efforts to have his guilty plea withdrawn. The Republican was convicted of a misdemeanor charge stemming from an airport sex sting, but has maintained that he "felt compelled" into pleading guilty despite his innocence.
Craig previously tried to withdraw his guilty plea but his request was thrown out by Hennepin County District Court Judge Charles Porter. In December, his motion to overturn that ruling was rejected the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
The three-term senator will not try to appeal to the state Supreme Court because it "would have been a futile gesture," his lawyer, Thomas Kelly, is quoted by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune as saying.
Craig was arrested on June 11, 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for lewd conduct. The arresting officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia, was undercover at the time and investigating sexual activity at the airport restroom.
The 63-year old has said that Karsnia misinterpreted his actions, which included foot tapping and hand waving while he was in a bathroom stall. Craig had filed his guilty plea to disorderly conduct by mail and without advice from a lawyer two months after his arrest. He had reportedly been told by authorities that he would only be required to pay a fine after he filed his plea.
He announced in September 2007 that he would immediately resign, but said a month later that he would finish his term and not seek re-election. Craig, who is married and has repeatedly said he is not gay, supported legislation banning same-sex unions.
Former Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, a Republican, won the open race for his Senate seat in November.
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