WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Wednesday called on Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, to quit the Senate because of his guilty plea in an airport restroom arrest.
Pressure mounted on Craig to resign, in the aftermath of the disclosure that he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with his June 11 arrest at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. An undercover police officer collared the 62-year-old three-term senator, saying he recognized Craig’s behavior as a sign that he wanted to engage in “lewd conduct.”
Craig Tuesday said it had been a mistake to plead guilty without legal advice and insisted he has “never been gay.”
McCain told CNN Wednesday he thinks the guilty plea means Craig must leave the Senate.
“My opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime that you shouldn’t serve,” said McCain.
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., also said Wednesday that Craig should resign, CNN said.
Senate Republican leaders issued a statement Wednesday saying Craig was stepping down from his Senate committee assignments.
“Sen. Larry Craig has agreed to comply with leadership’s request that he temporarily step down as the top Republican on the Veteran Affairs Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests,” said the GOP leadership statement.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the administration was “disappointed in what’s going on,” CNN reported.
“It's a matter for the senator and the Senate Republican leadership to address," said Stanzel. "We hope that it will be resolved quickly, as that would be in the best interests of the Senate and the people of Idaho.”
