Story Published: Dec 16, 2008 at 8:00 PM PDT
Story Updated: Dec 16, 2008 at 8:04 PM PDT
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (File image)
The Idaho Republican was a featured speaker at a Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce luncheon for a ceremony in his honor and spoke afterward about recent developments from the arrest.
When asked about losing a decision last week in the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn his misdemeanor guilty plea, Craig said he's considering ending the court battle.
"This may be that point," he said. "I'm not sure. Financially that may be the point. It's very expensive to follow this in the courts. But the decision has not been made."
Craig's next step would be to petition the Minnesota Supreme Court to hear his appeal.
A three-judge panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals last week rejected the Republican's bid to toss out his disorderly conduct conviction.
Craig was arrested June 11, 2007, by an undercover police officer who was conducting a sting operation against men cruising for gay sex at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
He quietly pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and paid a fine, but changed his mind after word of his arrest became public that August. Craig insisted he was innocent and said he was not gay. His attorney argued that the police officer misconstrued Craig's foot-tapping, hand movements and other conduct.
Boise State Political scientist John Freemuth says Craig brought a lot to Idaho over the years, especially to rural counties hurt by a declining timber industry.
"So he'll be remembered for that," said Freemuth. "But the end of his story ends with the Minneapolis thing, so it does diminish the record in that sense."
