Posted by The Crux | Last month, Republicans pressured legally troubled Senator Larry Craig (R-Id) into resigning after his June guilty plea made headlines (Craig was arrested after allegedly seeking sex from an undercover cop in an airport bathroom). Weeks ago, Craig said that he would resign on September 30 if his legal problems weren't favorably resolved.
September 30 has passed, and Craig hasn't resigned. The Washington Post reports:
"Worried that the disgraced lawmaker intends to remain in the Senate indefinitely, they [Republican senators] are threatening to notch up the public humiliation by seeking an open ethics hearing on the restroom scandal that enveloped Craig last month."
The Next Hurrah speculates that Craig's desire to remain in the Senate may have something to do subpoenas relating to the trial of defense contractor Brent Wilkes. Mercury Rising pointed out that Craig might have a better chance of resisting a subpoena (informally, I suspect) if he's still a sitting senator....
In May, Wilkes and ex-CIA official Dusty Foggo were indicted on numerous charges (including fraud and money laundering) involving allegations that Foggo helped Wilkes get big federal contracts in exchange for things of value (BN-Politics). The charges came out of the corruption scandal of former congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA), who relocated to prison in 2006 after taking $2.4 million in bribes (MSNBC)
The Next Hurrah found links among Craig,Wilkes and Cunningham:
"Craig called himself an old friend of Duke Cunningham and claims that he was ignorant to Duke's bribing ways. But
WilkesCraig also appears to have been a clear recipient of a quid pro quo--where he supported an earmark for Wilkes in exchange for at least $43,500 in donations from Wilkes' employees. So Craig may well have some insight into "the Congressional appropriations process and how it works" that he'd rather not share under oath (links in original).
Perhaps some of Craig's congressional colleagues would also prefer that Craig not share some information under subpoena, especially if Craig ends up implicated and cuts an immunity deal. Given this possibility, I wonder why Senate Republicans are still trying to bully Craig into leaving the Senate.
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