Posted on 09/27/2007 6:44:45 AM PDT by indcons
Idaho Republican Larry Craig has decided he wants to be a U.S. senator a little longer. His tenure may still be a short one.
Craig's lawyers asked a Minnesota judge Wednesday to let the three-term senator withdraw his guilty plea in a sex sting at a Minneapolis airport restroom. Afterward, Craig issued a statement saying he will stay in office "for now."
People close to Craig said that means until the judge rules.
Hennepin County Judge Charles Porter said that will be at the end of next week at the earliest.
Craig said earlier he planned to resign Sept. 30, then left the door open to stay if he could successfully withdraw his plea.
Craig, who originally had planned to seek a fourth term next year, pleaded guilty in August to disorderly conduct following a June 11 sting operation in a men's room at the Minneapolis airport.
That he will stay in the Senate past Sunday was an unwelcome development for Senate Republican leaders who have made clear they wish Craig would step down and let Idaho's GOP governor, C.L. "Butch" Otter name a replacement.
Otter canceled an extended tour of the state's overcrowded prisons this week to interview some of the nearly 30 people _ including Lt. Gov. Jim Risch and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden _ who have publicly expressed interest in Craig's job.
"He wanted to be ready to act if we received a letter of resignation," said Jon Hanian, Otter's spokesman in Boise. "Obviously, we had not. ... Until he receives a letter of resignation, we have no vacancy, therefore, there is no replacement."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters he had nothing to add to previous statements in which he said he thought Craig made the proper decision on Sept. 1,
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Bye - Bye Larry. Just leave, would ya????
The sooner you start enjoying your bloated government pension, the better!
A. S.
I’ve had it with these bozos. I’m going back to independent. Not one dime.
Does any one know if the judge is a democrat. If he is, he will probably reverse Craig’s plea just to help his party. I will google him.
Pack you bag fa........
Like Bob Ney of Ohio last fall, this clown would rather ensure another political defeat for his party than do the ‘honorable thing’ and just resign.
That said, it appears the GOP learned nothing from Denny Hastert’s handling of the Tom Foley mess.
I just checked the judge out. (I love the internet!) He was appointed by a Republican governor (Al Quie) in 1980. Maybe he will be a fair judge.
Yet another reason why America desperately needs CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS. Too many get in, get intoxicated with the power, never want to leave, and are difficult to remove with favors owed them and their fundraising abilities. I’m sure this is NOT what our Founding Fathers had in mind.
5 Terms for House members maximum (10 years)
2 Terms for Senate members maximum (12 years)
In almost every case, the most corrupt, absolute worst Congressmen are those who have been there the longest (Kennedy, Schumer, Murtha, etc). These self-serving hypocrites are costing America billions of dollars per year with their insane liberal ideas and pork barrel projects. They need to be term limited out and not croak in their Congressional seats.
Maybe Mexico would not allow him to quit. It needs every pro amnesty senator.
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