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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US senator in lewd conduct furore | US senator in lewd conduct furore |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Senator Larry Craig has denied being gay and has said he should not have pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being arrested in a men's toilet. | US Senator Larry Craig has denied being gay and has said he should not have pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being arrested in a men's toilet. |
| The Republican senator was held in June by a policeman investigating complaints of lewd behaviour at airport toilets. | The Republican senator was held in June by a policeman investigating complaints of lewd behaviour at airport toilets. |
| Speaking to reporters, Mr Craig said: "I am not gay. I never have been gay." He had done "nothing wrong", he added. | Speaking to reporters, Mr Craig said: "I am not gay. I never have been gay." He had done "nothing wrong", he added. |
| Republican leaders and a watchdog group have asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate Mr Craig's case further. | Republican leaders and a watchdog group have asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate Mr Craig's case further. |
| Mr Craig has already resigned from the 2008 presidential campaign of Mitt Romney, former Republican governor of Massachusetts. | Mr Craig has already resigned from the 2008 presidential campaign of Mitt Romney, former Republican governor of Massachusetts. |
| Mr Romney said the senator had disappointed the American people, adding that his conduct reminded him of former President Bill Clinton's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. | |
| "Frankly it's disgusting," he told CNBC. | |
| "He is no longer associated with my campaign ... I am sorry to see that he has fallen short." | |
| Mr Craig, a married father-of-three, said he would announce next month as planned whether he will run for re-election in 2008. He is in his third term as senator for the western state of Idaho. | Mr Craig, a married father-of-three, said he would announce next month as planned whether he will run for re-election in 2008. He is in his third term as senator for the western state of Idaho. |
| Hindsight | Hindsight |
| In a statement issued on Monday, Mr Craig confirmed he had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct three weeks ago. | In a statement issued on Monday, Mr Craig confirmed he had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct three weeks ago. |
| But, the 62-year-old said, he should not have done so without taking legal advice. | But, the 62-year-old said, he should not have done so without taking legal advice. |
| "At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions," he said. | "At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions," he said. |
| "In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously." | "In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously." |
| A charge of "gross misdemeanour interference to privacy" was dropped. | A charge of "gross misdemeanour interference to privacy" was dropped. |
| The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Senate ethics committee on Tuesday. | The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Senate ethics committee on Tuesday. |
| Toilet 'signal' | Toilet 'signal' |
| According to a police report seen by the Associated Press news agency, Mr Craig entered a stall next to that occupied by an undercover policeman in the men's toilets at Minneapolis-St Paul airport. | According to a police report seen by the Associated Press news agency, Mr Craig entered a stall next to that occupied by an undercover policeman in the men's toilets at Minneapolis-St Paul airport. |
| According to the policeman, he tapped one foot several times and then moved it into the neighbouring cubicle to brush against the officer's foot. | According to the policeman, he tapped one foot several times and then moved it into the neighbouring cubicle to brush against the officer's foot. |
| The police officer recognised that "as a signal often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct", the official complaint said. | The police officer recognised that "as a signal often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct", the official complaint said. |
| Mr Craig then gestured with his hand under the cubicle divider, AP quotes the document as saying, at which point the police officer identified himself. | Mr Craig then gestured with his hand under the cubicle divider, AP quotes the document as saying, at which point the police officer identified himself. |
| Court papers show Mr Craig paid $575 in fines and fees and was put on unsupervised probation for a year, while a 10-day jail sentence was stayed, AP says. | Court papers show Mr Craig paid $575 in fines and fees and was put on unsupervised probation for a year, while a 10-day jail sentence was stayed, AP says. |
| Mr Craig has a conservative record in the Senate and has voted against gay rights and same-sex marriage legislation. | Mr Craig has a conservative record in the Senate and has voted against gay rights and same-sex marriage legislation. |
| The furore comes only weeks after fellow Republican David Vitter admitted he had committed a "very serious sin" after his phone number was linked to an alleged Washington prostitution ring. | The furore comes only weeks after fellow Republican David Vitter admitted he had committed a "very serious sin" after his phone number was linked to an alleged Washington prostitution ring. |