www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20467347
Larry Craig denied soliciting an undercover police officer shortly after being arrested in a bathroom at a Minneapolis airport, an audio recording of the arrest revealed. Craig said on the June 11 recording, released Thursday by the Minneapolis Police Department, that he may have touched Investigative Sgt. Dave Karsnia's foot with his foot while they were in bathroom stalls. I believe they did," Craig said, adding that he was scooting over. Karsnia said that he had cited several people for similar behavior in the past and that he was disappointed in the senator. "You are sitting here lying to a police officer," Karsnia responded. Craig held a news conference then and said that despite his guilty plea, he had done nothing wrong and had hired an attorney. He has received little public support from Republicans, however. Several GOP lawmakers have suggested he resign, some citing the fact that he pleaded guilty in the case.
Hear an audio recording of the interview Some in GOP urge Craig to step down Earlier Thursday, a member of the Senate Republican leadership suggested that Craig resign in the wake of his guilty plea in the undercover police operation. "I think the pressure will continue to build," said Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, who chairs the party's senatorial campaign committee. Ensign told The Associated Press in his home state that Craig "admitted guilt, he pled guilty. It's a little different situation than just being accused of something." Ensign stopped short of calling on Craig to resign his seat, but strongly suggested he do so. "I wouldn't put myself hopefully in that kind of position, but if I was in a position like that, that's what I would do," he said.
Fact file: Other Washington sex scandals Several other Republicans have called on Craig to step down, and Ensign's comments, coming from a member of the leadership, sent an unmistakable public signal that support for the Idaho Republican has eroded significantly. On Tuesday, Republican Senate leaders pushed Craig from senior committee positions. A White House spokesman expressed disappointment in the 62-year-old lawmaker.
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