Craig opens another legal battle

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

MINNEAPOLIS - Sen. Larry Craig has opened a new round in his legal battle stemming from his airport restroom arrest, appealing a judge's refusal to let him to withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct.

Craig's appeal was filed Monday at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, less than two weeks after Hennepin County District Court Judge Charles Porter refused to overturn the plea.

The four-page filing did not detail the basis for the appeal, noting only that Craig was appealing Porter's Oct. 4 order. The documents were dated with Friday's date but were received and stamped by the Appeals Court on Monday.

"From the outset, Senator Craig has maintained that he is innocent of any illegal conduct at the Minneapolis airport," Craig's lead attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement. "Like every other citizen, Senator Craig has the constitutional right to make every effort to clear his name."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071016/ap_on_go_co/craig_appeal_10

---

I must say that I'm flushed with pride that Senator Craig has decided to put his foot down and not let this legal tap dance stall his continued work in the Senate...

[rurallib]

1. Thought maybe he would lead the fight to legalize sex in public restrooms.

Go Larry. Keep this story out there!

[Kolesar]

6. I wish drug-convicts sitting in prison because someone lied to get a lighter sentence...

...could be afforded such extensive and expensive rounds of legal process. Instead, they just get stuck in the tank with the bugs and the smells.

[damntexdem]

12. I guess he's not taking that wide a stance.

;-)

[ChickMagic]

13. Oh, heavens no

He had no idea that the gays used his signals.
He must lead the charge to stop them from ruining
his toe tapping time. Put the gays in jail for
having bathroom sex!

[SteppingRazor]

2. From the outset, Senator Craig has maintained his innocence?!

Does that include the bit where he pleaded guilty?

[Buzz Clik]

10. Craig is used to the Congressional approach -- being able to vote both sides of an issue.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work very well in court.

[ckimmy57]

11. Isn't that

like "flip flopping"?:shrug:

[slackmaster]

3. He's going to find the real toe-tapper, and write a book about if he really was homosexual

:eyes:

[Richard Steele]

4. Someone please tell Craig's lawyer that PLEADING GUILTY is not "maintaining that he was innocent".

DIFFERENT

[global1]

5. Just Curious - Is Craig Wanting To Keep His Seat To Protect His.....

senate related benefits (health insurance, pension, etc) after he's gone. Just wondering if he resigns - does he forfeit those 'bennys'?

It would make sense then for him to want to hang on until his term is up if this is the case. Has this been brought up before?

[Ian David]

7. Just tell me when I can donate $500 to his re-election campaign. Or better yet...

Larry Craig / Ted Haggard for President 2008!

[LittleWoman]

8. Setting aside his not guilty plea would open him up to prosecution

under the original charges which were more severe than those allowed in the guilty plea. I cannot see how he expects to benefit unless he either thinks the charges will be set aside or he is indeed just wanting to run out the clock so he can receive his benefits. Either way he is the gift that keeps on giving!

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Unlikely to be reversed.

To do otherwise would invite a floodgate of disaffected and disgruntled pleaders to withdraw their guilty verdicts and try for a better deal if not acquittal.

[dflprincess]

14. I don't understand why he continues to keep this in the public eye

you'd think he'd just want it to go away. I'm sure the Republican party would, especially as they'll be having their convention at the scene of the crime (so to speak) next year.

I'm beginning to think he's doing this just to get even with the party and Romney in particular for throwing him under the bus.