Washington - A US senator announced his resignation Saturday
after pleading guilty to charges of disorderly conduct in a men's
airport bathroom.
Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig said at a televised press
conference in his home state that he would leave his position on
September 30.
A number of politicians, including many from his own party, had
been openly calling for Craig to resign since the details of his
arrest at a Minneapolis airport emerged on Monday.
Craig, 62, was arrested in June amid a police sting operation over
lewd behaviour and sexual activity in one of the airport's public
bathrooms.
He pleaded guilty in August to a lesser charge - disorderly
conduct - and paid a 500-dollar fine, according to the Capitol Hill
publication Roll Call, which broke the story. Craig was also
sentenced to 10 days in jail, which were suspended, and given a
year's probation.
'I chose to serve because I truly love Idaho. What is best for
Idaho has always been the focus of my efforts, and it is no different
today,' he said in his resignation speech. 'To the Idahoans I
represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues and, most importantly,
my wife and our family, I apologize for what I have caused. I am
deeply sorry.'
Craig apologized that the debacle had distracted him from his
political duties, saying his decision to leave was in his
constituents' best interest.
'These are serious times of war and conflict - times that deserve
the Senate and our full nation's attention,' he said. 'There are many
challenges facing Idaho that I'm currently engaged in, and the people
of Idaho deserve a Senator who can devote 100 per cent of his time
and effort to critical state and national issues.'
He said that his legal problems would distract him from his job,
prompting his decision to resign. His announcement brought jeers from
the crowd, as well as cries of 'We love you Larry' from supporters.
Republican leaders on Wednesday stripped Craig of his committee
posts in the Senate and had reportedly drafted a statement calling
for him to resign, the Washington Post reported. The statement was
held back because local Idaho Republicans warned it may have had the
opposite effect of making his departure more difficult.
He had already resigned from a top post in Republican presidential
hopeful Mitt Romney's campaign.
The state's Republican governor will appoint a replacement to fill
Craig's seat for the remainder of his term.
Craig on Tuesday made a public apology for bringing a 'cloud' over
his home state, and said he regretted his guilty plea.
'I did nothing wrong at the Minneapolis airport ... and I regret
the decision to plead guilty,' Craig said Tuesday. 'I am not gay, I
never have been gay.'
Details of Craig's unsavoury episode dominated US news programmes,
newspapers and websites, and pressure for him to step down only
increased after an audio tape was released of Craig's interrogation
by Minneapolis police.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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