Editing Larry Craig (section)

==2007 arrest and consequences==
{{main|Larry Craig scandal}}
On June 11, 2007, Craig was arrested at the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]] for [[lewd conduct]] in a men's restroom.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.idahostatesman.com/2007/09/16/159879/tourists-flock-to-minneapolis.html|title= Tourists flock to Minneapolis airport men's room|author=Jeanne Huff |date=September 17, 2007 |work= Idaho Statesman|access-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> He was accused of soliciting a male undercover police officer for sexual activity.<ref name="policeRpt"/> During the resulting interview with the arresting officer, Craig insisted upon his innocence, disputing the officer's version of the event by stating that he merely had a "wide stance" and that he had been picking up a piece of paper from the floor.<ref name="policeRpt">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928090521/http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/ssi/craig_police_report_082807.pdf Lewd conduct: Report of Sgt. Dave Karsnia #4211, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police Department.] (June 12, 2007). ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved on August 28, 2007</ref>

Craig was charged with interference with privacy, a [[gross misdemeanor]] offense, and a disorderly conduct [[misdemeanor]].<ref name= mncourtrec>{{cite court |litigants= State Of Minnesota vs Larry Edwin Craig. Case No. 27-Cr-07-043231. |court= Hennepin County District Court |date= February 7, 2007|url= http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx |access-date=May 7, 2016 }} Note: In order to access the records, search by name or case number in the Criminal/Traffic/Petty Case Records database.</ref> Despite his statements of innocence during the police interview, Craig pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct by signing and mailing a plea petition, dated August 1, 2007, to the Hennepin County District Court.<ref name= mncourtrec/><ref name="craig-plea">[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0828071craig8.html ''Minnesota v. Craig'', Case No. 07043231. Petition to enter plea of guilty-misdemeanor (D.C. Minn., August 8, 2007).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630063514/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0828071craig8.html |date=June 30, 2009 }} The Smoking Gun. Retrieved on August 29, 2007. According to the criminal complaint, Craig was charged originally with offenses under the Minnesota State Statute section [http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=609.746&year=2006 609.746] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831084635/http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=609.746&year=2006 |date=August 31, 2007 }}, subd.1(c) (interference with privacy, a gross misdemeanor) and [http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=609.72&year=2006 section 609.72] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920222344/http://ros.leg.mn/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=609.72&year=2006 |date=September 20, 2007 }}, subd.1(3) (disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor). Complaint in [https://thesmokinggun.com/file/us-senator-gets-flushed?page=4 ''Minnesota v. Craig''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021182924/https://thesmokinggun.com/file/us-senator-gets-flushed?page=4 |date=October 21, 2021 }}, Case No. 07043231 (D.C. Minn., July 2007), page 2. The Smoking Gun. Retrieved on August 29, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1386023.html | title=Idaho senator fined for lewd behavior at Minneapolis airport | publisher=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]] | date=August 28, 2007 | access-date=August 28, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830155545/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1386023.html |archive-date = August 30, 2007}}</ref> Including [[Fine (penalty)|fines]] and fees, he paid $575. Craig signed the petition to enter his guilty plea, which contained the provisions, "I understand that the court will not accept a plea of guilty from anyone who claims to be innocent... I now make no claim that I am innocent of the charge to which I am entering a plea of guilty." Craig mailed his signed petition to the court, and his petition to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge was accepted and filed by the court on August 8, 2007.<ref name= mncourtrec/><ref name="craig-plea"/> 

On August 27, 2007, ''[[Roll Call]]'' published a story about Craig's arrest at the Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport and his subsequent guilty plea in that case.<ref name="Arrested Pleads Guilty">{{cite news |first=McArdle |last=John |title=Craig Arrested, Pleads Guilty Following Incident in Airport Restroom but Says He Did Nothing Wrong |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/19764-1.htm |publisher=Roll Call |date=August 27, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2007}}</ref> The following day, the ''[[Idaho Statesman]]'' published a story about prior allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior by Craig.<ref name=idahoaug28/>

In an August 28, 2007 press conference, Craig regretted filing the guilty plea, stating "In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senator pleaded guilty, reportedly after bathroom stall incident - CNN.com|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/27/craig.arrest/|access-date=2021-10-21|website=CNN|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021182914/https://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/27/craig.arrest/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Senator: I Shouldn't Have Pled Guilty|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senator-i-shouldnt-have-pled-guilty/|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=August 27, 2007 |language=en-US|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021182915/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senator-i-shouldnt-have-pled-guilty/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Larry Craig bathroom.jpg|The [[Larry Craig bathroom|bathroom]] at the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport in which the 2007 incident occurred|thumb]]

The Craig scandal became a major national news story.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2007/12/06/the-craig-scandal/|title=The Craig Scandal|first=Benjamin|last=Wormald|date=December 6, 2007|website=pewresearch.org}}</ref>

At a news conference on September 1, 2007, Craig announced his intent to resign, "with sadness and deep regret", effective September 30, 2007. On September 4, 2007, a spokesperson for Craig indicated that he was reconsidering his decision to resign,<ref name="MSNBC-reconsidering">{{Cite web|title=Sen. Craig may not resign, spokesman says|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20593999|date=September 4, 2007|access-date=2021-10-21|website=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021182914/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20593999|url-status=live}}</ref> if his conviction was rapidly overturned and his committee assignments were restored.<ref name="Yahoo-reconsidering">{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070906/ap_on_go_co/craig_senate |publisher=Yahoo News |title=Craig aide says he's likely to leave |author=Charles Babington |date=September 6, 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The following week, Craig's attorneys filed a [[motion (legal)|motion]] to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that it "was not knowing and intelligent and therefore was in violation of his constitutional rights."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/10/craig/index.html CNN Craig files to withdraw plea, blames stress from paper's investigation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911225154/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/10/craig/index.html |date=September 11, 2007 }} September 10, 2007</ref> The motion was ultimately denied, upholding the initial guilty plea.<ref name="MNorder">[http://www.mncourts.gov/documents/4/Public/4th_Suburban_Courts/Southdale/State_of_Minnesota_v_Larry_Edwin_Craig_10-4-07.pdf ''State of Minnesota v. Larry Edwin Craig'', Case No. 27 CR 07-043231. Order of Judge Charles A. Porter, Jr.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008144802/http://www.mncourts.gov/documents/4/Public/4th_Suburban_Courts/Southdale/State_of_Minnesota_v_Larry_Edwin_Craig_10-4-07.pdf |date=October 8, 2007 }} (D.C. Minn., October 4, 2007). State of Minnesota District Court, County of Hennepin, Fourth Judicial District. Retrieved on October 4, 2007.</ref> The controversy forced Craig to step down from his position as liaison to the Senate on the [[Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign|Romney campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senator, Arrested at Airport, Pleads Guilty|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/washington/28craig.html|access-date=October 5, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 28, 2007|archive-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422210545/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/washington/28craig.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Craig vehemently denied wrongdoing, saying "I am not gay. I never have been gay."<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1966526_1966525_1966533,00.html |title=Time |magazine=Time |date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2018 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929111120/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1966526_1966525_1966533,00.html |url-status=live |last1=Friedman |first1=Megan }}</ref>

Following the ruling, Craig announced that despite his previous statements to the contrary, he would serve out his Senate term. He stated that he intended to "continue my effort to clear my name in the Senate Ethics Committee—something that is not possible if I am not serving in the Senate."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/20354-1.html | title=Craig to Finish Senate Term Despite Losing in Court |work=Roll Call | author=Emily Pierce |date=October 4, 2007 | access-date=October 4, 2007 }}</ref> Craig did not seek reelection in 2008 and left office on January 3, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c000858/ |title=Larry Craig – U.S. Congress Votes Database |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203181044/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/C000858 |archive-date=December 3, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] }}</ref> Craig was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor and former Governor [[Jim Risch]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2008Nov05/0,4675,IdahoSenateRisch,00.html |title=In Idaho, Jim Risch's rose through the GOP ranks. |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2008 |website=Fox News |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804110509/https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2008Nov05/0,4675,IdahoSenateRisch,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Both the 2009 documentary ''[[Outrage (documentary)|Outrage]]'' and the magazine ''[[Newsweek]]'' (June 7, 2010 issue) listed Craig, among others, as a conservative politician with a record of anti-gay legislation who was caught in a gay sex scandal.<ref>Newsweek, June 7, 2010 page 58</ref>

In June 2012, the [[Federal Election Commission]] sued Craig for repayment of $217,000 of campaign funds which he used to pay for his defense in his criminal case. In an August 2012 filing, Craig's lawyer Andrew Herman wrote "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel"; the filing cited an FEC ruling that allowed former Congressman [[Jim Kolbe]] to use campaign funds for his legal defense in the [[Mark Foley scandal]].<ref>{{Citation
 | last = Miller
 | first = John
 | title = Ex-Idaho senator: Bathroom trip official business
 | newspaper = San Francisco Chronicle
 | date = August 3, 2012
 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-Idaho-senator-Bathroom-trip-official-business-3760660.php
 | access-date = August 3, 2012
 | archive-date = August 3, 2012
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120803224224/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-Idaho-senator-Bathroom-trip-official-business-3760660.php
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> A federal court in Washington, D.C. determined that he improperly paid his attorneys in this matter from his campaign funds, and Craig was ordered in 2014 to pay the Treasury $242,535.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/larry-craig-111500.html | title=Larry Craig fined for misusing funds | website=[[Politico]] | date=September 30, 2014 | access-date=October 13, 2014 | archive-date=October 8, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008050032/http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/larry-craig-111500.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On March 4, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed that judgment.<ref name="lose1">{{cite news|title=Ex-Idaho Sen. Larry Craig loses appeal on funds use after bathroom incident|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160304/NEWS02/160309555|access-date=April 12, 2016|work=The Daily Herald|date=March 4, 2016|location=Everett, Washington|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309164633/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160304/NEWS02/160309555|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="lose2">{{cite web|title=FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate, and Larry Craig Individually|url=https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/0/37DE1170C141877485257F6C005520FD/$file/14-5297-1602363.pdf|publisher=United States District Court for the District of Columbia|access-date=April 12, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035834/https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/0/37DE1170C141877485257F6C005520FD/$file/14-5297-1602363.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>