Craig Blames Press For Guilty Plea

[sabra]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/10/politics/main3246147.shtml

GOP Senator Wants To Withdraw Guilty Plea, Says He Was Under Extreme Stress From Reporters

(AP) Sen. Larry Craig should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea in a sex sting because he was under extreme stress after being hounded by journalists asking questions about his sexuality, his lawyer argues.

Craig, an Idaho Republican, pleaded guilty in August to disorderly conduct following a sting operation in a men's bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. His lawyer, William Martin, said he will file court documents Monday trying to undo that decision so Craig can fight the charge.

Martin said Monday that Craig did not "knowingly and intelligently enter a guilty plea." The senator simply admitted conduct that "itself does not constitute a crime," Martin said.

"He admits to going into the bathroom, he admits to moving his foot, he admits to reaching his hand down," Martin said on NBC's "Today" show. "That's not a crime."

[acmavm]

1. WTF? Didn't he hide this conviction for a couple of weeks? And

some enterprising reporter found it only by combing through the court records?

What a crock.

[hobbit709]

8. It was more like a couple of months

Typical repuke, if caught-lie. If the lie doesn't work-come up with a new lie. Then try a different lie.
RULE #1: If the alibi changes every five minutes, somebody's lying.

[Horse with no Name]

2. But nobody knew about it for 2 months?

:freak:

[H2O Man]

9. All the more proof

of the insidious, cunning, and deceitful nature of the media. I would like to say that it is reporters who are fully responsible for every error that I've made, including but not limited to those that were never reported. Bastards!

[acmavm]

19. I agree. If he can use that excuse we all should be able to blame

the media for our screw-ups.

I have two ex-husbands I'd sure like to blame someone else for. I think I'll make it all Dan Rather's fault.

[malaise]

22. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

:rofl:
This is a case of 'I'll do anything to make it go away'. It didn't work.
I have no sympathy for Larry Craig and I'm betting that neither does Bill Clinton.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. you volunteer a guilty plea because of the MEDIA?

THAT IS EVEN LESS CREDIBLE than most of W's Bushisms.

[Botany]

4. you fight Larry .... never give up ..... keep fighting Larry

Martin said Monday that Craig did not "knowingly and intelligently enter a guilty plea."
The senator simply admitted conduct that "itself does not constitute a crime," Martin said.

:rofl:

[yardwork]

5. How does Senator Craig feel about waterboarding?

If "hounding by the press" caused him to plea guilty to something he didn't do, how reliable are the "confessions" obtained in Gitmo? Let's take a look at Senator Craig's voting record on torture.

Well, whaddya know. He voted for torture every single time.

[NNN0LHI]

6. People do sometimes plead guilty to crimes they are innocent of

Like when they have a plastic bag put over their head or are beaten silly by the police. That is a fact.

I don't think that is the case here though.

Don

[Dr.Phool]

7. "Craig did not knowingly and intelligently enter a guilty plea"

Translation: "My client is as dumb as a box of rocks". He is after all, a Republican.

[hobbit709]

10. You're wrong on that

A box of rocks is smarter, it at least has enough sense to keep quiet.

[Botany]

13. No Craig had 6 weeks in Idaho and Washington D.C. to consult w/

his lawyer(s) before he sent his plea back in by mail.

[Mist]

20. So the press was hounding him during that entire 6 weeks? Um, ok. nt

[Bluebear]

21. They were following him and his family to CHURCH!!!

Oh no, that was the Vitters. And Jeff Gannon.

[mcscajun]

11. Ah, yes. Another shining example of Republican "personal responsibility."

"It's not My Fault!"

[liberal N proud]

12. Didn't he plead guilty BEFORE the press ever heard about it?

This guy is more delusional than the average republicon

[racaulk]

14. I swear, you can't make this stuff up!

Craig's implosion just gets better every day!

Don't let that evil "librul" media get to ya, Larry. You keep on fighting!

:rofl:

[mac56]

15. Soooo pathetic.

Soooo typical Republican.

Do whatever you want - and if you get caught - deny and blame.

Pathetic, really.

[Lobster Martini]

16. Logically, it's an interesting argument...complete bullshit, of course...

I have to say, that's a creative argument. If you plead guilty then claim to be innocent, then your guilty plea is invalid because the fact that you pleaded guilty while believing that no crime was committed invalidates the guilty plea because it wasn't entered "knowingly and intelligently"...whew!

This is going to fly like the Hindenburg, but it is interesting logic.

[havocmom]

17. Hypocrite & liar or hypocrite and delusional?

It ain't about orientation, das fer sur.

We know he has a lawyer. At this point, one wonders if what he really needs is a doctor.

[jojo54]

18. Oh jeez, Craig. Cry me a river!

:cry:

[Geoff R. Casavant]

23. I say let him withdraw it --

-- then the DA should simply refuse to plea bargain, and the judge should set the trial for, oh, say, October 2008.

The spectacle of this dimwit hypocrite trying to demonstrate his "wide stance" in open court just before the elections would be a priceless gift to the Democrats. The find him guilty and throw him in the slammer for a month.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. The judge should throw him in contempt.

Yep, revoke the plea, set it for trial. That means that he's saying he committed perjury when he pled guilty to the lesser charge.

[book_worm]

25. So he pleads guilty to something because the press has been trying to expose his sex life?

It would seem to me he would want to plead innocent.

[Mr. Ected]

26. What Message Is He Sending Our Children?

That lying to a judge is acceptable when you're too stressed out to deal with it?

I'm being sarcastic, but not entirely. Just another member of the Personal Responsibility Party acting hypocritically.