Craig reacted to arrest by trying to keep it a secret, but reporter got anonymous tip

[sabra]

Source: mcclatchydc

Craig reacted to his arrest by trying to keep it a secret. But a reporter got an anonymous tip.

<snip>

Court and arrest records released Tuesday show that Craig negotiated his plea over the telephone, then signed and returned it to the courts in the mail, much like a traffic ticket.

In his plea, signed and dated Aug. 1, but not recorded until Aug. 8, Craig agreed that by handling the matter through the mail, he was giving up a trial and his right to be present at the time of sentencing.

...

The arrest stayed a secret for 2› months. The arrest was for a minor misdemeanor of an out-of-state senator with a less-than-famous name. Roll Call, a Washington newspaper, broke the story Monday after spending a week pursuing an anonymous tip, finding it difficult to unearth the records from the airport bureaucracy, said John McArdle, the reporter who wrote the story.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/1264/story/144655.html

[sofa king]

1. There are some things that just don't fit in the closet.

[corkhead]

2. "I'm very, very, very sorry... that I got caught"

[kansasblue]

3. All you reporter-want-to-be... this stuff is all open to the public.

Any court action is available for public inspection. You could go check the records in your home state.

This is public record. (I'm I wrong?) This would be a normal reporters duty to watch the police and court reports for such
an event.

Are we saying things were different in this case? Were the records sealed? Why is it that it has taken on some 'secret just discovered' note?

[Ian David]

6. Anyone in Oklahoma want to follow-up on Charles Alfred Dreyling, Jr.? n/t

[ryan0000]

13. I actually went to high school with him at PCN

I'm from Oklahoma and actually went to high school (PCN) with charley dreyling, and i'm a little confused on what you mean by following up on him?

I've known him since middle school, and I can assure you it was a 100% misunderstanding. It's really interesting to me, because you hear about cases and media sensational stories like this from time to time, and I tend to believe roughly what I hear, but to actually see it happen to someone you know and know for a fact that it had nothing to do with terrorism of any sort (he's a preppy white kid, and its absolutely absurd to think he had any reason or ability to do what some assumed).


What is the reasons you are asking in this forum about him though, and what is your take on what happened?

[Ian David]

24. Two words: Timothy McVeigh.

My take on it is that an overprivileged preppy white kid managed to walk away clean from something that would have had him thrown in Gitmo if his name had been Mohamed.

A former Republican mayor hadn't shown-up at his arraignment and vouched for him, and THAT was good enough to put all legal and security issues to rest?

He was going to FLIGHT SCHOOL, and "forgot" not to bring pipe-bombs onto an airplane?

Welcome to DU, by the way, classmate of Mr. Dreyling.

Nice to see a shiny new name suddenly appearing to defend him.

At the very moment, for all we know, Charles "Pipebomb" Dreyling, Jr. may be flying a commercial airliner full of passengers.

Just because rich, well-connected Republicans vouched for him, are we supposed to feel safe?

Some Muslim guy hatches an impossible "plot" to destroy a bridge using a pair of bolt cutters, or homeless guys in Miami agree to play along as potential terrorists because they want the cool uniforms, and it puts the nation on Red Alert and saturates the media.

Well-connected rich Republican tries to bring a bomb on a plane... and he goes back to flight school? And the media ignores it?

That is my take on it.

Would you be willing to make a visit to the courthouse and see if you can locate a file on him to post online?


See related thread:

Why can't I find a criminal record for Charles Alfred Dreyling, Jr.? (Repuke Pipe Bomb Pilot)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1690398&mesg_id=1690398

[ryan0000]

32. listen friend.....

Look, I understand your view that if it was a muslim or middle eastern person who had made this mistake , then he would be even more crucified by the media (the media loves terrorists bullshit for the same reason you are obsessed over it (actually because you are obsessed over it=ratings)....), but that DOESNT/Wouldn't change the fact that it was a mistake, reguardless of how bad the media would crucify the person.

Obviously it was a bone head move to do that, and the argument could be made that he should have had harsher penalties...thats not my view.

All I want people like you to understand is this simple fact : FOR 100% SURE, THERE IS NO WAY, 0 PERCENT CHANCE, THAT CHARLEY HAD ANY INTENTIONS OF TERRORISM (if you knew him at all you'd realize how ridiculous that is) or of hurting anyone at all.

That is a fact, and the reason I bother to even come on here to defend him is because from knowing him since middle school, then to high school, then to the same college, I know the side of the story that the media isn't reflecting on, and people like you don't/can't know for sure.

What you need to do is give up this witchhunt, and realize that the kid made a mistake (a big one), and his name has been dragged through the mud as a terrorist, his family humiliated, and shamed him. He has paid a price, whether you agree its high enough or not, but dont for a second assume that you know he intended to harm a single person, because you sir, are truely ignorant.

[Ian David]

33. He's damn lucky he came from a rich Republican family who could pull the right strings, isn't he?

Just out of curiosity, is he currently employed as a pilot?

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Why would a reporter in Idaho, where this story would've logically been broken

by the "normal duty" you describe, check records for Minnesota?

[SteppingRazor]

11. Yes, it's a public record, but...

Trolling arrest records at your local courthouse is impossible. Generally, you have to let the clerk know what you're looking for.

[Ian David]

25. I've had good success with it. You just go in wearing a coat and tie...

... act like you belong there, and nobody ever asked me any questions.

[obxhead]

27. Not true...

I have sealed docs in my record that I can not even look at without a judge opening the envelope.

[LibDemAlways]

4. Craig is a US Senator caught in a sex sting operation.

The police and airport authorities were aware of it from the get-go. They knew it was dynamite. Calls had to have been made that very afternoon to Pawlenty who had to have consulted with the WH. Craig knew he was in deep shit. No way did he keep it to himself as claimed. He was most likely also on the phone that very day. Someone high up ordered that a clamp be put on the whole thing, and it damn near worked. The stonewalling and denials now that it's out make me think Craig's receiving advice from Rove.

[saigon68]

5. Read Asswipe's Goal # 3

http://craig.senate.gov/mission.cfm

defend and strengthen the traditional values of the american family

He's also the Co-Chair of the "Idaho Safe Kids Foundation".

[WarhammerTwo]

15. Just because he's gay...

....doesn't mean he's a pedophile. I don't know if that's what you meant, but that's what seems to be implied by pointing out he's a co-chair of the Safe Kids Foundation. Granted, dirty, geriatric, restroom stall sex is just plain nasty, but all that verifies is that Craig is just plain nasty. It doesn't make him a kid toucher. I mean, yeah, he broke the law and got busted and hopefully he'll pay the price, but let's make sure that he's punished for the crime he actually committed and not make unfounded extrapolations. I hope I don't sound like I'm biting your head off. That's not my intent. I'm just big on being fair and unbiased. Throwing out even the most innocuous insinuations like that is something I feel the more fanatical folks of the "other side" would do, I and don't think any of us would want to stoop to their level. I'm just glad his hypocrisy has been exposed.

[saigon68]

19. I guess he was in the forefront

Of the 1982 page molesting denials too.

[dave29]

23. I don't think he was insunuating Craig is a pedophile

I think he is making the statement that this man who is engaging in behaviors that can be very harmful to children if they happen to witness it, is in a position of responsibility when it comes to protecting those same children. Again, it speaks to hypocrisy, not pedophilia.

-Dave

[ChairmanAgnostic]

26. Hey, he SAID he was not gay. ergo, he

must not be gay.
therefore, he is a
hmmm mmmm mmmm

[TroglodyteScholar]

29. I'd say the point was...

...that as a homosexual, he will have no clout with the right-wingers, many of whom are unable to distinguish between homosexuals and pedophiles.

[yardwork]

7. I agree with you - thi stinks to high heaven of a cover-up

Craig demanded information from the airport police center back in June to "send to his attorneys." Does anyone doubt that he did so?

Why did it take a week of digging to get the information from the airport authorities, according to Roll Call? Even after an anonymous tip the paperwork was hard to locate.

I don't believe a word of this.

Oh, and Craig's excuse that he solicited sex in a bathroom stall because he was under pressure from the newspaper investigating his sex life? :rofl:

[ejbr]

8. I think he would have you believe that was the case!

As well as the doozey of "he misunderstood my actions". Really? So, the officer saw him walk into the bathroom, relieve himself and leave and somehow thought he was soliciting sex? We're ALL in trouble if that is the case! Maybe he didn't wash his hands and the officer misunderstood that as being indecent? I am trying to figure out what actions can be miscontrued that involves walking, pissing, washing hands and leaving the bathroom. Or are we missing something Senator Craig?

[truthisfreedom]

16. If this is correct, then the real story is still lurking and it's got the potential to raise a lot

of voters' eyebrows.

[Maraya1969]

9. Apparently that restroom was advertised on the web as a gay hook up spot.

"The airport restroom was so well known it was featured on an adult Web site that offers information about where men can link up for romantic encounters in both public and private locations."


I wonder how accessible it is to the public. I wonder if there are other toilets closer to the stretch where the guy normally walks to and from his plane. He is said to travel about once a week so I bet he has/had a routine.

[Yurovsky]

22. Leave it to a GOP senator to ruin a good thing ...

can't a guy get a little action anymore without it becoming national news? ;-)

Seriously, the degree of hypocrisy here (Senator "Family Values" who votes AGAINST gay rights) is sooooo off the charts that no one would ever believe this if you tried to write a book or screenplay incorporating this plot line. Reality really is stranger than fiction.

[Maraya1969]

30. Welcome to DU Yurovsky!

Nice to have you here. :yourock:

[SodoffBush]

12. I'll bet he paid an "official" visit to that airport's USO

Many in our military are gay.

[NJCher]

14. I believe the story that it was difficult to get the records

Oh man, have any of you guys tried to get information lately? First of all, nearly everyone everywhere is incompetent. On top of all that, nobody is too inclined to cooperate on anything.

Even basic stuff where is says right in the law that you have the right to look at it--they will still tell you you have jump through hoops. See this guy. See that guy.

I could tell you stories but I don't think I have to. Anyone who has tried to get info through a place like a transportation authority would know.



Cher

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. "I didn't do it, I just felt like pleading guilty anyway"

If you plead guilty to somethingin a court of law, then aren't you, well, legally guilty? What's all this about not being guilty now?

[FredScuttle]

18. Who tipped off the reporter?

JOHNNY!!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. Pleading guilty just makes a man feel better, even if he did no wrong.

It's a guy thing, right Larry?

[farmhand]

21. Nice thing about being a Democrat, NO WACKO RELIGIOUS BASE!

One of the nice thing about being a Democrat is that if your in office you don't have to worry about people thinking your gay, or being gay for that fact. We don't have some wacko religious homophobic base that will destroy your career for something like that.

[Maraya1969]

31. Good point. And welcome to DU farmhand!

:hi:

[Ian David]

34. But god help you if they catch you throwing asbestos out with your regular trash. n/t

[MiniMe]

28. An anonymous "tip"?

hmmmmm, I could make a comment, but I think I'll leave it alone.