Embattled Sen. Craig fights off accusations; 'I'm not gay' 

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, faces media cameras and reporters Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 28, 2007, outside the Wells Fargo Building in downtown Boise. He appeared with his wife, Suzanne, to dismiss accusations of lewd conduct and contentions made in a local newspaper.

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, today in a news conference apologized for “the cloud placed over Idaho.” Craig is subject to media scrutiny this week after news organizations reported that he pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct following an incident at the Minneapolis airport.

In a statement read in downtown Boise, Craig said next month he would announce, as planned, whether he will seek re-election. He has taken pro-business stances on a number of issues during his career in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

“There are still goals I would like to accomplish, and I believe I can still be an effective leader for Idaho,” he said.

“In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision,” Craig said in the statement. “While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of making it go away. I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney, staff, friends or family. That was a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Because of that, I have now retained counsel.”

Craig said stress from an eight-month investigation into his personal life by The Idaho Statesman was a factor in how he dealt with events in Minnesota.

“In pleading guilty, I overreacted in Minneapolis because of the stress of the Idaho Statesman’s investigation and the rumors it has fueled around Idaho,” Craig said.

“Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been,” he said.

Craig did not respond to reporters’ questions.

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