Craig’s fall may upstage his career

WASHINGTON —  In 27 years as a congressman and senator representing Idaho, Larry E. Craig built a long legislative record.

He played a key role in enacting a law that shields gun makers and sellers from lawsuits over misuse of their weapons. He helped broker a deal that led to legislation aimed at helping prevent forest fires. And he steered millions of dollars to his state for projects.

But four days, 19 hours and 42 minutes after the first report of his arrest in a sex-sting operation was posted on the Internet, his political career came to an end. He now faces the prospect of being remembered not for his legislative record, but for his police record.

On Saturday, Craig announced “with sadness and deep regret” that he would resign from the Senate at the end of the month. “What is best for Idaho has always been the focus of my efforts, and it is no different today,” he said.

Craig explained that he hoped to withdraw his guilty plea for disorderly conduct and said that would be an “unwarranted and unfair distraction of my job and for my Senate colleagues.”

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who joined his former congressional colleague at a Boise news conference, was expected to appoint another Republican, most likely Lt. Gov. James E. Risch, to serve the remainder of Craig’s term, which ends in January 2009.

Craig, appearing with his wife and two of this three children before perhaps the largest media gathering he has faced, again apologized for the events that abruptly and ignominiously stained his legacy as one of Congress’ leading voices on Western issues.

“To Idahoans I represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues, but most importantly, to my wife and my family, I apologize for what I have caused. I am deeply sorry,” he said.

It was not clear whether Craig would fly back to Washington to join his Senate colleagues when they return Tuesday from their monthlong summer recess.

Craig, 62, who served about 17 years as a senator after 10 years in the House, went into a political free-fall after his guilty plea was disclosed Monday.

In June, Craig was arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport by an undercover officer investigating complaints that men were soliciting sex in a restroom. The officer said Craig tapped his foot and slid his hand under a stall divider, which the officer said indicated a desire for sex. Craig paid $575 in fines and fees last month and was given one year’s probation.

At a news conference Tuesday in Boise, Craig denied doing anything inappropriate, insisted repeatedly that he was not gay, and said he regretted pleading guilty.

Craig’s downfall was swift, even by Washington standards. But his guilty plea and the extensive media coverage of the incident became a headache of migraine proportions for Republicans at a time when the party is gearing up for the 2008 congressional campaign.

The party has been unable to escape the taint of scandal that contributed to its losses in the last elections. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest-serving Republican senator, is under investigation; and Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana recently apologized for a “very serious sin” after his phone number turned up in the records of an alleged madam.

GOP colleagues in Idaho and Washington leaned heavily on Craig to give up the seat. Two Republican senators called on him to resign; others denounced his alleged behavior. The party’s leadership asked for an investigation by the ethics committee and stripped Craig of his committee leadership positions.

Last week, the Republican National Committee considered issuing a statement calling on Craig to resign but held off at the request of Idaho GOP officials who wanted to meet with the senator, said a Republican aide who spoke on condition that he not be named because he was not authorized to speak about the matter.

Craig’s departure is not expected to change the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority. Idaho remains a very red state and a Republican is heavily favored to win the seat in November 2008.

Republican leaders expressed relief with Craig’s decision.

A number of prominent Republicans had urged him to resign or had remained conspicuously silent. But on Saturday, they took a more sympathetic tone.

President Bush telephoned Craig to tell him he knew it was a difficult decision and to wish him well, said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel, who added that Craig “made the right decision for himself, his family, his constituents and the U.S. Senate.” Bush’s spokesmen had called the imbroglio “a disappointment,” but the president said nothing about the matter.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a short statement that Craig made the right choice: “It is my hope he will be remembered not for this, but for his three decades of dedicated public service.”

Idaho’s junior senator, Republican Michael D. Crapo, called Craig’s resignation a “sad day” and also expressed hope that he would be remembered for his accomplishments. “It is my hope that as history judges Sen. Craig, that his successes, accomplishments and strong leadership for Idaho in Congress are taken in totality,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho), who joined the senator for his announcement, said Craig and his family were due “a measure of grace, dignity and Idaho-style decency that has been missing in their life recently.”

The governor’s spokesman, Jon Hanian, said Otter attended the news conference to show Craig that the governor “is not a fair-weather friend.”

Craig said little about his legislative record other than that he was proud of it.

Crapo, on the other hand, cited Craig’s support for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget “long before most members of Congress would even recognize the out-of-control spending by the federal government.” And he said, “The efforts he has undertaken over the years regarding agriculture and natural resources have helped build strong rural economies in Idaho and across the country.”

Craig, abandoned by GOP colleagues in Washington, thanked some of the state’s political figures for showing up for his announcement. “For any public official at this moment in time to be standing with Larry Craig is in itself a humbling experience,” he said.

Sheila Olsen, a longtime GOP activist in Idaho who watched Craig’s announcement on television, said that Craig “did what had to be done.” She said she was relieved he announced his decision without referring to the “sordid details of the week.”

“I’m frankly glad to be past that,” she said.

Jim Weatherby, professor emeritus at Boise State University, said it was uncertain how Craig would be remembered, adding that he was once counted among the state’s most revered senators: “A top political reporter wrote a few years ago that Larry Craig was poised to be the fourth face on Idaho’s Mt. Rushmore, adjoining William Borah, Frank Church, Jim McClure. That’s, of course, not going to happen now. And unfortunately I think for Larry Craig, he will be known more by this latest incident than anything he has done in his 27 years in Congress.”

Craig, who showed no emotion at what might have been his last news conference as a senator, said he would seek to clear his name.

“I have little control over what people choose to believe,” he said, “but clearly my name is important to me and my family is so very important also.”

His office announced that he has hired Washington lawyer Billy Martin, who recently represented NFL quarterback Michael Vick in his dog-fighting case and previously represented former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

Craig could qualify for a $98,000-a-year congressional pension, assuming he joined the system upon entering the House in 1981, according to an estimate made by the National Taxpayers Union.

Earlier this year, Craig voted for a Senate measure that would deny pensions to lawmakers convicted of serious crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy and perjury.

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richard.simon@latimes.com