Comments (45)

rubberpants wrote on August 30, 2007 5:57 PM:

Sounds like a guy who got caught doing something very embarrassing and is desperate to keep he secret hidden. A better person would have come clean in that situation. He decided to try and perpetuate the charade.

Molly Ivins wrote on August 30, 2007 6:01 PM:

Hell Raised!!

Anonymous wrote on August 30, 2007 6:03 PM:

I loved living in Minneapolis. They have straight arrows, real eagle scouts, there. Just good plain people with moral compasses.

DaveB wrote on August 30, 2007 6:18 PM:

Craig must have thought he was on "the situation room" or something where one can lie with impunity.

Dan wrote on August 30, 2007 6:18 PM:

The whole conversation between the cops and LC shows why it's absurd to run these kind of police operations. It ends up being the word of one against the other. Frankly, I think LC is a lying hypocrite, and trolling for sex in a public restroom is crude and rude (at the very least). But I don't see a law broken here even if the cop is right about what all happened. Don't police have more important things to do?

Mike Mid City wrote on August 30, 2007 6:36 PM:

The airport police in Minneapolis are trying to reduce the sex trade in the airport.

They must have been receiving complaints from the public. The Senator even said he uses that bathroom a lot.

There is a poetic justice to this.

Mark F. wrote on August 30, 2007 6:40 PM:

Sounds to me like the cop was browbeating the guy and trying to intimidate him into paying the fine. I was completely unsold on Craig's story until I heard the tape. Now I'm not so sure this isn't simply a case of an overzealous prick cop trying to avoid a false arrest charge.

byronb wrote on August 30, 2007 6:40 PM:

This was a very smart cop who was trying to get Craig to confess. Someone from the "Hood" would have know that and kept there mouth shut. "you have the right to remain silent"

Anonymous wrote on August 30, 2007 6:56 PM:

No one reaches down on the floor of a public restroom to retrieve a piece of toilet paper....

Mark Richards wrote on August 30, 2007 7:03 PM:

Craig needs to abandon his idiotic Republican positions and listen to the ACLU. The first rule is to shut up and get an attorney. Clearly he thought that he could talk his way out of it and instead dug a deeper hole.

The interview is over as is Larry Craig, and that's fine by me. Unfortunately someone named "Butch" will be responsible for appointing his replacement in the Senate. That ought to turn stomachs everywhere.

Publius Valerius Publicola wrote on August 30, 2007 7:21 PM:

Of course, it won't change anyone's behavior but the airport management is negligent if they knew of the problem and didn't change the partitons on the stalls so that they reach all the way down to the floor.

Bye Bye GOP wrote on August 30, 2007 7:22 PM:

This is a guy about whom it has been whispered about for 20 years that he has had public sex in bathrooms (Union Station, DC) and cruised for men in public (REI, Boise). What are the odds that he would stumble into the cruisiest gay sex spot in Minnesota and get entrapped by a sting? Please, get real

fuzz wrote on August 30, 2007 7:25 PM:

Really, Mark F? If you were innocent in that situation would you say "I'm not going to fight you?" I wouldn't. I'd be bloody pissed and telling the cop I was going to fight the charges tooth and nail. The only "browbeating" came into play when they started having disagreements of fact. Even though Craig disagreed with him there was absolutely no indication whatsoever that Craig intended to pursue false arrest charges or do anything except plead guilty and pay the fine. Given that he already planned to plead guilty and pay the fine there's no way he could claim false arrest. The officer was simply frustrated that Craig wouldn't admit to the facts of the incident.

The alternative, that this is a dirty cop willing to lie under oath to score a $500 fine for the city, seems rather far-fetched.

Mooser wrote on August 30, 2007 7:45 PM:

Poor Mr. Craig has been caught up in our national homosexual panic, where the tapping of a foot (was he tapping out show tunes?) or the placement of a gym-bag (well, "gym" means naked in Greek Latin, nudge wink nod nod) gets one a lifetime sex-offense record.

Welcome to the world you helped make, Mr. Craig! Hope you're enjoying the show. It's just a 'crime' the way people are hounding you, isn't it Mr. Craig?

Duncan wrote on August 30, 2007 7:58 PM:

This morning on one of the Air America shows, they were referring to him as Senator Tappy McWidestance. . . which was pretty funny. Now I have not yet heard the tape, I have only read the transcript. However, I have been practicing criminal law for twenty years, and I can't believe that Craig entered a guilty plea to anything for this. Granted, I don't know all the facts, don't know what was in the police report. And Craig should certainly have kept his mouth shut (get your mind out of the gutter, I meant during the interrogation). But the "facts" presented by this transcript reveal only the contact between shoes and the reach for the paper. Experienced prosecutors would recognize that proving anything beyond a reasonable doubt would be problematic, and would probably not even have filed this case. These facts would prove anything besides inadvertant shoe contact beyond a reasonable doubt? Note that I am not claiming that Craig wasn't cruising. I am saying that based on what I see here, the defense should have told the prosecution to go shove it somewhere.

One more thing - someone above said that anyone from the "hood" would have known to keep their mouth shut. I realize how people might think that. But nearly everybody spills their guts. Hell, even I find myself talking too much if I'm pulled over for speeding or something. Usually, if there is one thing in a case that just tanks it, it will be the client simply spewing way too much information to the cop. By the way, I thought the "hood" reference by the cop sounded a bit racist.

bob wrote on August 30, 2007 8:03 PM:

Why does Sen. Craig bring up entrapment at the beginning? He knows the score.

KYJurisDoctor wrote on August 30, 2007 8:50 PM:

The Senator delays his ignominious exit!

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/u-s-senator-larry-craig-delays.html#links

TrueBlueMajority wrote on August 30, 2007 9:06 PM:

The most damning detail: LC says "you solicited me".

How would Craig even know that these random behaviors were signals of solicitation for sex if he had never engaged in this behavior before?

Jake D. wrote on August 30, 2007 9:52 PM:

Maybe because the policeman had already told him he was being held for solictation, TrueBlue.

melandell wrote on August 30, 2007 10:54 PM:

Here is the best line of the interview:

DK: Embarrassing, embarrassing. No wonder why we’re going down the tubes. Anything to add?
NN: Uh, no.

DK: Embarrassing. Date is 6/11/07 at 1236 interview is done.
LC: Okay.

Notice that at this point, he doesnt even address Craig anymore - (NN is asked about anything to add, not LC). The Cop is disgusted with the lying to his face (like the repubs - believe me or believe your lying eyes). He has nothing more to hear from Craig.

jacabo wrote on August 30, 2007 11:06 PM:

catching out all of LC's lies is kind of fun -- its interesting that the bathroom described is a well known bathroom rated and frequently discussed on sites devoted to disseminating this kind of information. The bathroom appears to be located behind the ticket counter, outsisde TSA. In LC's interview transcript he admits he uses this bathroom regularly on his weekly commute. This means he makes a regular practice of leaving the concourse to use THIS bathroom; which means of course he has to go through security again to catch his connection.

How many of you would go through security if you absolutely did not have to do so?

jreilly@manningsmithlaw.com wrote on August 30, 2007 11:09 PM:

Unasked questions;

Was there any more logical route for the Senator to get home?

Was there any faster connection?

Were there any other problematic restrooms in that airport? Or, did the innocent Senator "stumble" into the only hot-spot?

Was that restroom a logical restroom for the Senator to be in? Did he belong in a different terminal?

Yeah right, I'm not gay either.

Has anyone considered; when your pants are around your ankles they impede a "wide-stance."

The hypocrite was cruising! Let him fry.

Anonymous wrote on August 30, 2007 11:32 PM:

You saw something that didn’t happen.

DAN S. wrote on August 30, 2007 11:54 PM:

THIS TOILET TROLL SHOULD BE DUMPED. BUT, THE DIAPER-WEARING WHOREMONGER FROM LOUISIANA SHOULD BE DUMPED TOO.

REPUBLICANS ACCEPT ALL KINDS OF PERVERTS IN THEIR DEN.

heh wrote on August 31, 2007 12:25 AM:

all great points noted especially the one about him going outside TSA and going through security again, which I loathe and would not do it if I could avoid it.

but, he could've used a charter flight or corporate jet and this whole experience would be moot.I guess we have to be thankful for that.

I mean, Tom Delay was being flown around in a corpo jet.

LTO wrote on August 31, 2007 7:34 AM:

Cop says it all: "Embarrassing, embarrassing. No wonder why we’re going down the tubes."

Anonymous wrote on August 31, 2007 8:15 AM:

Craig is not just a perv, he's an idiot. You get arrested, you keep your mouth shut. Once you're arrested, a cop never talks to you except to get you to confess or to implicate others. Threatening him with "taking him to jail" if he lied is just a ridiculous bluff.

"Ich bin nicht gay" doesn't really measure up to "Ich bin ein Berliner," does it?

TSUMBRA wrote on August 31, 2007 9:07 AM:

This 'splanes' all?
www.ilovepoetry.com/viewpoem.asp?id=93229
"Kickin' with Senator Larry Craig"

Rebel wrote on August 31, 2007 9:16 AM:

LTO has a good point. The cop must be a Republican. He admitted Sen Craig's (R) behavior was embarrassing. The cop even referenced Sen Stevens (R), with the claim, "we’re going down the tubes."

;)

redbeer1 wrote on August 31, 2007 10:26 AM:

>

Sorry Jake, but Sen.Widestance McTappyfoot would have to have known just what the Gay signals were to have claimed that the officer was soliciting him. Unless he was just responding like a child would
"Your a dumbass"!
"No your the dumbass"!
"You solicited me".
"Nugh ugh, you solicited me"!
Get real Jake. Your being about as honest as a republican.

brudy wrote on August 31, 2007 10:28 AM:

The saddest part of this whole thing is that Craig has to hide who he is and is reduced to lookin for action in the airport restroom. He's beholden to a hypocritical homophobic regressive political party that eats its own in a part of the country that's not so tolerant. It's really a sad commentary on America and our hang ups.

Jake D. wrote on August 31, 2007 11:10 AM:

Hi, AnonTip : )

Jake D. wrote on August 31, 2007 11:12 AM:

I'm a registered Independent, redbeer1.

chris wrote on August 31, 2007 12:04 PM:

why does Senator Vitter skate? why is paying for sex, prostitution, admirable or al least forgivable but soliciting for free sex is a ticket to Republican hell? Where is the moral compass of those who brushed aside sex with Congressional interns by their superiors but now are outraged? i don't think this is homophobia but rats fighting to appear righteous as the ship sinks. unfortunately, mainstream media is becoming more and more desperate to appear righteous and those rats are hoping for short memory capacity by their viewers.

Outtie McHypocrite wrote on August 31, 2007 2:21 PM:

If he has a stopover in Minneapolis on his weekly commute between DC and Idaho, he isn't flying in a charter or corporate jet. He's flying Northwest Airlines and would have no reason to go outside of airport security (except to troll for sex).

JGabriel wrote on August 31, 2007 4:47 PM:

Dan: "The whole conversation between the cops and LC shows why it's absurd to run these kind of police operations. It ends up being the word of one against the other. Frankly, I think LC is a lying hypocrite, and trolling for sex in a public restroom is crude and rude (at the very least). But I don't see a law broken here even if the cop is right about what all happened. Don't police have more important things to do?"

Normally, I'd agree with you. Even if Craig was trolling for sex, say in a restaurant or a hotel lavatory, there would still be the argument that, once he found a willing partner, he would invite the partner to somewhere more private.

But this was an airport restroom.

If you listen to the tape, you can even hear Craig talking about how he "can't miss" his flight.

So given the circumstances, the location, and the display of tearoom etiquette, the *only* activity Craig could have been seeking was sex in a public bathroom.

Now, one can argue that it would be a better local deterent of sexual activity to place an officer on guard in the restroom, or to make frequent rounds.

But I don't think one can argue that police stationed at the airport shouldn't ticket or arrest people trying to have sex *in* a publc restroom at the airport.

JGabriel wrote on August 31, 2007 5:09 PM:

I do like, though, that Craig tried to get out of it by flashing his Senate business card, and ended up, instead, with the final response being, "Embarrassing. No wonder the country's going down the tubes."

Army Vet wrote on August 31, 2007 7:49 PM:

This is the "short, edited version" of the interview. Read the entire interview for a better understanding. Craig Never admitted doing anything wrong. The officer's replies make me think the officer was drunk or very tired. His questions and replies seem unresponsive. Craig should have never pled guilty to anything. This could have happened to any normal person finding a piece of paper on the floor of the stall. The officer does not deny moving his foot toward Craig's foot first, thus soliciting Craig.

Rodney wrote on August 31, 2007 7:49 PM:

For a straight guy, Craig sure seems well informed about the gay signals of which he was accused. Sure the officer was trying to intimidate him into a confession, but without being asked, Craig volunteers that "he is not gay" and he "doesn't do these kinds of things" and he "is a respectable man". If Craig really spends all of his free tiem reading the Bible, why does he automatically know that he was busted for soliciting gay sex? i would have been asking about the nature of the charges and why foot under the stall wall is illegal.

Craig's mistake was to not immediately claim that God forgave him and cured him. he could volunteer for Iraq duty to redeem himself since he is not gay.

It would be interesting to know if Rev. Ted Haggard ever "lobbied" Sen. Craig.

Offended wrote on August 31, 2007 11:22 PM:

DK: I just, I just, I guess, I guess I’m gonna say I’m just disappointed in you sir. I’m just really am. I expect this from the guy that we get out of the hood.

The Hood? The HOOD? Sounds like this police officer is a racist, like a lot of Democrats trying to perpetuate the depedence of minorities on the government, so their power is maintained.

Mike Mid City wrote on September 1, 2007 12:10 AM:

Poor Larry, has such a crappy story.

Everyone who picks paper off the floor of a public restroom raise your hand.

Yep, Larry is just a very green sort of guy. That's GREEN NOT GAY.

Yep yep yep, a real crappy story.

The fact that the Republicans are coming back next year for their conventions is a hoot.

matteo wrote on September 1, 2007 6:22 AM:

here in italy we have a latin phrase for this: excusatio non petita accusatio manifesta
a non requested explaination about something MAYBE wrong is just a clear defense for something REALLY wrong

Jane wrote on September 1, 2007 10:26 AM:

NPR's On the Media on Sept.1 has a story about the Idaho Statesman confronting Craig (at his home with his wife) with an audio of a source claiming a sexual encounter with Craig. They didn't run it since the good Senator denied it: they concluded that it was not news since it was just a he said, he said story. This is all after Craig's 1982 denial of involvement in the Foley matter and after Mike Rogers outed Craig in a blog.

The Idaho Statesman was deservedly scooped and has since run the story. They should have run it in the first place: they did have a he said, he said and they should have let the public make their own judgments as to credibility. Further, the background took it out of a simple swearing contest.

The cop was doing his job: he wanted the Senator to cop a plea, he wanted as much agreement on the facts as possible and when the Senator continued to lie to him he attempted to embarrass the Senator into making admissions.

The Republican Party really liked Craig's policy positions as shown by Mitt Romney selection of Craig as co-liaison to the Senate and campaign chair in Idaho. The homophobia rampant in the Publican party has lead them to ditch Craig asap and probably had a substantial role in leading Craig to lead a dishonest closeted life. Under these conditions Craig would be a prime blackmail prospect. I wonder what Rove knew and when he knew it. I also wonder how many other people are similarly vulnerable.

goatchowder wrote on September 2, 2007 12:20 AM:

"I also wonder how many other people are similarly vulnerable."

Wow. Mod +5 insightful.

I've been wondering for years how Rove has for 7 years managed to get the Repugs to all vote as a block, following Bush in lock-step, with nearly no dissentions.

senilebiker wrote on September 2, 2007 1:58 PM:

Interesting statistics - there are 49 repub senators, of which I suppose there at least a couple of females, and in the last couple of months two _ Craig and Allen have been busted for cottaging, s that makes around 5%.

Now I know there are many views on what percentage of the population is gay, but only a fraction of gays go cottaging, and of those only a fraction get busted..

Maybe it will soon be easier to out the straights.