Idaho Senator Pleaded Guilty in Airport Incident

Aug 27, 10:00 PM

Current Headlines: WASHINGTON _ In another embarrassment for the GOP's "family values" credo, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, has been caught up in charges he solicited an undercover cop in an airport men's room.

While denying homosexual activity was involved, the 62-year-old married Craig pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the June 11 incident at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, paid fines and fees of $1,575, and was given a year's probation.

In the arrest report, first disclosed by Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, plainclothes police Sgt. Dave Karsnia said he took a seat in a stall to investigate complaints of airport sexual activity.

Craig allegedly peeked through a crack in the door and then took the adjoining stall, where he "tapped his right foot" and then moved his foot to touch the officer's shoe.

Combined with other moves by Craig, Karsnia said, "I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct."

Karsnia said he flashed his badge under the stall's divider, told Craig he was under arrest, and the senator "exited the stall with his roller bags without flushing the toilet." As he was being booked, Craig allegedly handed Karsnia his Senate card and said: "What do you think about that?"

In a statement Monday, Craig said, "At the time of the incident, I complained that the police were misconstruing my actions. I was not involved in any inappropriate activity" and "in hindsight, I should not have pleaded guilty."

Last October, Craig's office denied allegations on a gay activist Web site that he was a homosexual.

In 1982, when he was a representative, Craig denied rumors he was involved in one of the periodic Capitol Hill sex scandals involving congressional pages. The allegations "make me mad as hell," Craig said at the time.

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