BOISE, ID -- While calls for resignation came
from Republicans on Wednesday after the news broke about Senator Craig's
arrest for conduct in a men's restroom at a Minneapolis airport,
Craig made the following statement to the press, apologizing to his
family, friends and staff:
First, please let me apologize to my family, friends, staff, and
fellow Idahoans for the cloud placed over Idaho. I did nothing wrong at
the Minneapolis airport. I
regret my decision to plead guilty and the sadness that decision has
brought to my wife, family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans. For
that I apologize.
"In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision. While I was not
involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or
anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of
making it go away. I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney,
staff, friends, or family. That was a mistake, and I deeply regret it.
Because of that, I have now retained counsel and I am asking my counsel
to review this matter and to advise me on how to proceed.
"For a moment, I want to put my state of mind into context on June 11.
For 8 months leading up to June, my family and I had been relentlessly
and viciously harassed by the Idaho Statesman. If you’ve seen today’s
paper, you know why. Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been.
"Still, without a shred of truth or evidence to the contrary, the
Statesman has engaged in this witch hunt. In pleading guilty, I
overreacted in Minneapolis, because of the stress of the Idaho
Statesman’s investigation and the rumors it has fueled around Idaho.
Again, that overreaction was a mistake, and I apologize for my
misjudgment. Furthermore, I should not have kept this arrest to myself,
and should have told my family and friends about it. I wasn’t eager to
share this failure, but I should have done so anyway.
"I love my wife, family, friends, staff, and Idaho. I love serving Idaho
in Congress. Over the years, I have accomplished a lot for Idaho, and I
hope Idahoans will allow me to continue to do that. There are still
goals I would like to accomplish, and I believe I can still be an
effective leader for Idaho. Next month, I will announce, as planned,
whether or not I will seek reelection.
"As an elected official, I fully realize that my life is open for public
criticism and scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for the mistake
in judgment I made in attempting to handle this matter myself.
"It is clear, though, that through my actions I have brought a cloud
over Idaho. For that, I ask the people of Idaho for their forgiveness.
"As I mentioned earlier, I have now retained counsel to examine this
matter and I will make no further comment.
I
regret my decision to plead guilty and the sadness that decision has
brought to my wife, family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans. For
that I apologize. 
The Hunk
