Sen. Craig acts to withdraw guilty plea in sex sting

MINNEAPOLIS - Sen. Larry Craig filed court papers yesterday to withdraw his guilty plea in an airport sex sting, arguing that he entered the plea under stress caused by a newspaper's inquiry into his sexuality.

Craig, an Idaho Republican, pleaded guilty last month to disorderly conduct after his June arrest in a sting operation in a men's bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. A police report said Craig had solicited sex from a male officer at the airport, which the senator has denied.

In a "state of intense anxiety" after his arrest, Craig "felt compelled to grasp the lifeline offered to him by the police officer" and pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct charge in hopes the matter would not be made public, said the court papers filed in Hennepin County District Court.

The filing said Craig panicked and accepted the plea, rather than seeking the advice of a lawyer.

William Martin, the senator's attorney, cited pressure from Craig's hometown newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, which spent months investigating whether Craig engaged in homosexual encounters. Craig has denied any such activity and accused the newspaper of conducting a "witch hunt."

Statesman executive editor Vicki Gowler issued a statement yesterday that said the paper's investigation was done with "great care." She said its length was "due in large part to difficulties we encountered getting information from the senator."

When his guilty plea became public, Craig came under intense pressure from Senate Republican leaders and other colleagues in Washington to resign. He first announced he would resign Sept. 30, then said he was reconsidering that decision. A spokesman later said Craig has dropped virtually all thought of trying to finish his third term, unless a court moved quickly to overturn the conviction, unlikely before the end of the month.

Patrick Hogan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which runs the airport and handled the prosecution of the case, said the prosecutor would oppose Craig's motion.

"Mr. Craig was arrested and signed a guilty plea, and from our standpoint, this case is already over," Hogan said.