NPR: Sen. Larry Craig to Keep Promise to Retire

Sen. Larry Craig to Keep Promise to Retire

When he was in the middle of his airport bathroom sex-sting scandal, Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig said that while he would not resign, he would also not re-offer for his seat in the fall. On Friday, Craig kept his word.

The Hill reports that Craig didn't file for reelection by Idaho's deadline Friday. Craig's political career had been in doubt since last August when Roll Call reported he had allegedly solicited sex from an undercover police officer conducting a sting operation to crack down on alleged gay sexual liaisons in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's bathrooms. Craig denied all charges and resisted pressure to step down immediately.

The passing of Friday's 5:00 p.m. deadline brings to a close a career in elected office that began with Craig's election to the Idaho state Senate in 1974 and all but clears the way for Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch (R) to take his seat next year in the strongly Republican state where President Bush defeated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) 68 percent to 30 percent in the last presidential contest.

1:50 PM ET | 03-24-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Sen. Craig cannot leave soon enough.

Best regards to America.

Sent by Dave Rosen | 6:48 PM ET | 03-24-2008

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