Craig began notifying Republican leaders last night of his decision to resign, GOP officials said. He made the decision after the National Republican Senatorial Committee informed him that it would no longer support him if he remained in office and sought reelection next year, the sources said.
The announcement by Craig, 62, culminated a series of events that began with his June 11 arrest by an undercover officer investigating "lewd conduct" in a restroom of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to a police report. The airport police had set up a sting operation in response to complaints about sexual activity in the public restroom.
Seeking to avoid publicity, Craig pleaded guilty Aug. 8 to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, a plea he later said he regretted. In a defiant public appearance in Boise this week, he denied having done anything wrong and insisted, "I am not gay."
Seantor Craig has done the right thing in resigning. There are serious issues facing the Senate in the upcoming months and although he denies anything illegal was done and says he pleaded to a lesser charge to "make it go away", not out of guilt, the scandal and focus would have continued to be on him instead of the issues that face us as a country in the upcoming month.
This was for the best.
[Update] White House speaks to Craig and says it is the best decision, from ABC:
The White House said that the embattled Republican Senator Larry Craig made the right decision by resigning, amid a scandal over his arrest in an airport bathroom.
"Senator Craig made the right decision for himself, his family, his constituents and the US Senate," Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman, said.
President George W Bush called the Idaho lawmaker after hearing news of his resignation, Mr Stanzel said.
"He told Senator Craig he knew it was a difficult decision for him to make and he wished him well," the spokesman said.
Tracked back by:
Sen Craig Resigns, Sort of Apologizes from Bottom Line Up Front...
.