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Colleagues urge Craig to resign In wake of sex scandal, GOP senator agrees to temporarily give up top committee posts
Associated Press, August 30, 2007
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's political support eroded by the hour Wednesday as fellow Republicans in Congress -- including Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind. -- called for him to resign.
Party leaders also pushed him unceremoniously from senior committee posts.
"While additional concerns are being raised, Senator Craig already demonstrated that he is unfit to serve in the U.S. Congress when he pled guilty," Souder said in a statement. "I believe that he needs to step down." The White House expressed disappointment, too, and nary a word of support for the 62-year-old lawmaker, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge stemming from an undercover police operation in an airport men's room. The senator's spokesman declined comment. "They have a right to express themselves," Sidney Smith said. He said he had heard no discussion of a possible resignation. Craig, R-Idaho, said Tuesday he had committed no wrongdoing and shouldn't have pleaded guilty. He said he had only recently retained a lawyer to advise him in the case.
Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Norm Coleman of Minnesota also urged Craig to step down, as did Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida and others who joined them as the day wore on. For a second consecutive day, Senate GOP leaders stepped in, issuing a statement that said Craig had "agreed to comply with leadership's request" to temporarily give up his posts on important committees.
He has been the top Republican on the Veterans Affairs Committee, as well as on subcommittees for two other panels.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said, "We are disappointed in the matter."
He said he hoped the ethics committee would do its work swiftly, "as that would be in the best interests of the Senate and the people of Idaho."
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