Posted on 12/02/2007 6:41:57 PM PST by freespirited
Five men have come forward to say they have had sexual encounters with Idaho’s senior senator Larry Craig. In Sunday’s edition of the Idaho Statesmen four of the men are revealing their names. Senator Craig is denying these allegations.
Two of the accusers' names were released in previous publications when they claimed of having encounters with Craig. The names of two other men are new, and there's an anonymous fifth accusation from a local man who fears if he releases his name, he faces retaliation.
In audiotapes they say this.
David Phillips
David Phillips first told his story to Washington DC gossip website, wonkette. Phillips, an IT man in DC told the website that 20-years ago he had a sexual encounter with Craig.
Mike Jones
Mike Jones, who you may have heard of before for his involvement with the Ted Haggard sex scandal says he took 200 dollars from Craig for sex, more than two years ago. Jones told the paper he didn't know who Craig was until he saw his first news conference back on August 28th. Rumors that Jones had met with Craig surfaced in October, but Jones never admitted to having sex with the Senator until now.
Greg Ruth
Greg Ruth who is from Tacoma, Washington says back in 1981 while at a republican conference in Coeur d’Alene Craig, who was a bachelor at the time, followed him into the bathroom and tried to make conversation. Ruth who was openly gay told the Statesman Craig gave him his number and told him, he could stay with him when he visited Washington DC.
Tom Russell
Tom Russell, a Nampa native who now lives in Utah contacted the Statesman about what he says was unusual behavior from the Senator. Russell, who was openly gay when he met Craig, says the Senator suggested a meeting and allegedly used signals typical of gay men in public places.
The fifth person who is a gay Boise businessman says that he and Senator Craig were on the same plane from Boise to Denver, when Craig made the same motions to him that he was later arrested for in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.
The Statesman says in its investigation they don't have videos, messages, or a letter from Craig to these men but we need to keep in mind these allegations also cannot be disproved.
This is the statement Senator Craig released about the Statesman’s allegations.
“It is unfortunate that the Idaho Statesman has chosen to continue to lower itself to the standards of what can best be described as tabloid journalism. Like its previous coverage, these latest allegations are completely false and have no basis in reality. In fact, the paper itself states that these baseless accusations contain no definitive evidence yet they still decided to print them anyway. However, despite the fact the Idaho Statesman has decided to pursue its own agenda and print these falsehoods without any facts to back them up, I won’t let this paper’s attempt to malign my name stop me from continuing my work to serve the people of Idaho.”
Hell no I don’t believe the idiot. Get the hell out of Washington ASAP, you poofer.
Craig fell into the trap when he succumbed to sin.
Craig's situation is in no way comparable to Newt's. What's wrong with due process of law in Craig's case? I think that's mentioned in the Constitution somewhere. Maybe he's gay but if not he deserves the chance to defend himself.
Due process in a court of law, not the court of the media.
He said he said...let’s put the evidence to this. Could be true...but one must have solid evidence to back up these claims. Not defending Craig...but come on...
Thanks - glad others see it. Most do not.
Yep. I have maintained something close to that all along. I don't know if any of these allegations are true or not. But I'm not convinced by any facts so far that he has done anyting wrong except except wide-stanced toe-tapping. I hope Craig continues to fight these accusations because even if Craig is gay (and guilty) I fear dems will be empowered to go after straight conservatives with false accusations.
I'm still bothered about the earlier criminal conviction, Senator Craig. Why are you still here? Please do the GOP a favor (as well as the citizens of Idaho and the entire United States) and resign NOW.
Senator Allen - gone
They are picking them off one by one. Wake UP (not you).
Anyone believe the Senator? Not me.
Ditto!
Wait a minute.
Where’s the tolerance, the love, the acceptance by the gay community?
Why the “gotcha” game?
If Craig is gay, why isn’t he being shown acceptance by the gay friendly media? And all those oh-so-long suffering gay groups?
Oh, that’s right. He’s a nasty, mean old REPUBLICAN.
If this was a Democrat, he would hailed as a hero of human civil rights. How horrible, that he was forced to look for love in bathroom stalls! Oh, when, when will the injustice end??!!!!!!!/s/
Instead of reviling Craig, we should be trumpeting the hypocrisy of the Dems , the gays, and the media. They are the ones involved in trying to destroy a man, not to advance the plight of homosexuals, but strictly for the advancement of the Democratic power struggle in the Senate and the Democratic agenda overall.
Hillary probably is a lesbian,and all we hear about her is ....nothing. And when it does come out, there will be no gotcha—it will all be what a saint she is.
We are playing right into their hands. Thirty years in the Senate and everyone deserts him. Seems to me it is the Republicans who are the fairweather friends.
The Dems are trying to pick off Republicans one by one. And they have been succeeding because we have been helping them.
There are some things more important than whether Larry Craig is a homosexual or not.But the stupid party never learns and never fights back.
If the Republicans lose in 2008, they deserve to go the way of the Whigs.
Because we will be too busy in the second American Revolution to take our country back from Madame Hillary and her merry band of socialists.
We’ll see how the Senator tap-dances around this.
Due process in court is needed before slapping someone in jail. Private citizens denigrating and mocking a lying hypocrite don’t need proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A preponderance of the evidence will do, and in this case I think it goes into he category of “clear and convincing” evidence. Jeer on, everyone.
You and Judge Roy Bean. Hay-ull yes, git out the rope an' hang the bastid, boys! He looks guilty as hell!
Craig has appealed his case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He's said he's seeking all legal paths to clear his name. That, in case you don't recognize the concept, is due process of law.
“A Christmas Story” probably would never have been made if not for the box office success of “Porky’s”.
No one is suggesting that Craig be prosecuted for any of these encounters. It’s clear that the Republican Party’s chances are not enhanced by him remaining in office. The Democrats can pander on issues of gay marriage/rights all they want. The GOP should not acquiesce in Craig’s behavior.
He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. He asked for a court hearing to reverse that charge. The judge ruled against him so he's appealed to a higher court. That hearing has not yet been held.
The GOP should not acquiesce in Craig’s behavior.
Craig's GOP "friends" were the first to turn on him. They ran like scared rabbits the minute they heard the accusation of "homosexual." That would make an innocent man angry.
The people of Idaho elected Craig to the Senate, not the GOP leadership. Idahoans can recall him if they desire. If the Senate GOP wants to take action they should give Craig the Ethics Committee hearing he's asked for -- and that they don't have the political guts to conduct. He's fully within his rights to demand such a hearing.
There is a difference between private consensual homosexual behavior and trolling for sex in a public restroom.
Craig’s conduct in Minneapolis was not consistent with what one expects of a member of the U.S. Senate. Worse, he was fully aware at the time that the newspaper was researching prior allegations of this sort. This made his behavior all the more inconsistent with his responsibility to the GOP and the Senate.
This is my opinion. I appreciate that you have yours.
Yes, he was ultra-aware that the Statesman was "researching allegations of this sort." And that's one of the main reasons I give credence to his account of events that day, not the vice cop's. Craig pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of "disorderly conduct" and was assured that doing so would keep a lid on news of the arrest. He knew the Statesman would go wild and his career and reputation would be destroyed if it came to light.
That's exactly what happened when the story was "leaked" by person/s unknown to Roll Call. I'd be very interested in learning more about that leak and the leaker, and whether there's any connection to the Statesman -- especially the editor, a liberal who formerly worked in Wisconsin.
The arrest and plea don't prove Craig is gay or that he did the things the airport vice cop said he did. He's asked for an Minnesota Appeals Court review of the matter and he should get it. I have no proof but I can't get over a gut feeling the cop had a political motive in the arrest, or was just bored and overzealous. If Craig is provably a sodomite I have no sympathy for him or his actions but I don't think that case has been credibly made yet by anyone, especially the MSM.
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