Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Senator Larry Craig to Announce His Resignation
Aired September 01, 2007 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, we do have a busy hour. That was a rather uncomfortable segue there, wouldn't you say? Anyway, well you guys have a great day. We've got much more ahead here in the NEWSROOM.
Well, CNN reporters are standing by in Boise, Idaho, where Senator Larry Craig is believed to be just minutes away of resigning because of that scandal. We'll bring that you announcement live along with background and analysis from the best political team on television.
Hello, everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The hour of reckoning, a Republican source tells CNN disgraced Senator Larry Craig is expected to announce his resignation about 30 minutes from now. The Idaho Republican brought down by a sex sting in a Minneapolis airport men's room. We are covering this story on several fronts. CNN Congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, is live in Boise, Idaho. Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley is live in Washington and CNN's senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin joins us later on the phone from New York. Let's gee within with Dana in Boise, Idaho.
So, what can we expect -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Fredricka, we can expect in about a half an hour, Senator Larry Craig to come right here to this area that is well known here in Boise, that he's probably stood many times before having press conferences talking to constituents about the things that he's doing for his home state, but this time he is expected to come and tell his constituents that he is going to resign his seat in the U.S. Senate effective September 30.
And it was only about four days ago that the senator came before cameras and said that the only thing that he did wrong was to plead guilty to something that he said he didn't necessarily do.
That really didn't fly with people here in Idaho and especially with his national party, with his colleagues back in Washington. They pressured him in an unprecedented way, almost, to really leave. He got it from his colleagues in the United States Senate, from national figures around the country who wanted to put this behind them and put this behind them fast. They saw this as a tabloid issue, as a scandal that has plagued -- it was plaguing them at a time where this is the last thing the Republican Party needs. So, the pressure that he got was public, it was private. Four days ago, Senator Craig said, "I believe I still can be an effective leader from Idaho." From what we understand, he clearly, no longer believes that or at least has become convinced that he cannot go back to the U.S. Senate and that is what we expect to hear from him in about a half an hour -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So Dana, what's the situation for the governor? It's the governor's decision in which to name an interim senator, right?
BASH: That is correct. The governor is a Republican, this is a very Republican state. He will nominate a Republican to fill Senator Craig's seat, so it won't change the balance of power or at least the dynamic and the makeup in the U.S. Senate. There are several leading contenders, one seems to be rising to the top, that is the current lieutenant governor, Jim Risch. He is sort of the leading candidate when you talk to Republican sources, here.
There are others, Representative Mike Simpson and there's sort of a long shot, if you will, and that is somebody who's well known on the national stage, has been for some time, the interior secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, he was a senator already, he was a governor. So, that is something that the current governor is going to decide. Governor Butch Otter, through a spokesman, insists that he has not yet decide that he won't, in fact, off this to anybody until Senator Craig does make his announcement.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana, thanks so much. We'll keep checking back with you there from Boise Idaho.
Meantime, let's check in with CNN's senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, in Washington.
And so, Candy, we heard Dana say that the pressure was both private, as well as, public. And we also understand that the senator did reach out to a number of allies, but he did not reach out to leading Republican leaders in Washington. How did he come about this decision, then?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he didn't have to reach out to them to know how they felt. Mitch McConnell, who is the top Republican in the Senate, called this unforgivable in an interview with a hometown paper. There were others, the top Republican who is in charge of getting Republicans elected said, listen, if I were Senator Craig, I'd resign. No conversation need, here.
There were, obviously, two phone calls between Senator McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate and Larry Craig. One was to tell him that there was going to be an Ethics Committee probe, the other was to tell him they were stripping him of his leadership position on a couple of committees. So, he didn't really need to talk to national Republicans at this point.
WHITFIELD: And now, what about this probe, then? If there was that threat that there was this ethics probe that could come, might it still come even if he were to step down September 30? Might there still be some sort of investigative wing of congressional leaders that they want to exhaust?
CROWLEY: Unlikely, at this point. A lot of people thought that Ethics Committee probe might have been a little overreaching only because they, you know, it's about, you know, does it affect your job. Nonetheless, with him getting out, this is something that they can move on from, so I think it's unlikely that they would do that.
But, listen, you know, the point for these Republicans at this juncture, you sort of need to understand the atmosphere in which this took place and that is, this is Labor Day weekend. Next week, the Senate comes in. Republicans were hoping to turn the corner. Labor Day is always the kickoff for the next election -- that is the 2008 election.
Republicans are looking at a very grim picture. They wanted to sort of shed their history in 2006, part of what was to blame for their drubbing in 2006, they believe, was all of this corruption that was seen in couple of members that had to leave the House. So, you know, the problem here was that it took place in a very bad time and there was a guilty plea, so they really felt that they had no choice, given where they were in the cycle and given what Senator Craig himself had done, which was pleaded guilty.
WHITFIELD: Great, so the Republican Party is feeling like it's in kind of a recovery mode but how does it do that given that there have been a string of other scandals and now this one kind of is, you know, icing on the cake.
CROWLEY: Absolutely. I mean, they really wanted to turn the corner, talk about budget issues, which you know, comes up in the Fall. We obviously have the Petraeus report coming out, a very important decision to the maybe about the future in the war in Iraq and then along comes this and they were blindsided by it and they were angry.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much, we'll be touching back with you again, too, s soon as we hear of think announcement coming up in less than 30 minutes from now.
So, this is not the first time Senator Craig's sexuality has come into question. Still, there's no question about his conservative record. CNN's Carol Costello takes a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gay rights group called Senator Larry Craig the worst kind of Jekyll and Hyde, conservative in public but something very different in private, that he was arrested in a men's bathroom and convicted of disorderly conduct comes as no surprise.
MATT FOREMAN, NATL. GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE: I just thought, here's another one of these anti-gay bigots that's caught with his pants down and it's just such a recurring pattern. I'd like for it to end, frankly.
COSTELLO: Senator Craig has voted against same-sex marriage and against extended protection for gays against hate crimes. He describes himself as a traditional family man, yet that bathroom incident. Psychiatrist Dr. Gale Saltz says in general, people who exhibit split behavior are conflicted about their sexuality, anguished about it, especially if they were raised to believe it's wrong.
DR GAIL SALTZ, PSYCHIATRIST: Then, the only way to make this acceptable, so to speak, to deal with the anxiety of thoughts that you may be gay, is to say to yourself, I am so not gay. I am the utter opposite of it.
SEN LARRY CRAIG (R), IDAHO: I am not gay. I never have been gay.
COSTELLO: Reporter: Senator Craig has repeatedly denied he's gay and he has denied it again, saying his plea of guilty was a mistake caused by stress from media scrutiny.
CRAIG: In pleading guilty, I overreacted in Minneapolis because of the stress the Idaho Statesman investigation and the rumors it has fueled all around Idaho.
COSTELLO: But rumors surrounding Senator Craig's sexuality have swirled for more than 20 years. In 1982, responding to questions about homosexual contact between congressmen and pages, then Congressman Craig told NBC News:
CRAIG: I have always been aggressive and up front with what I believe in and when I have people telling me that a whole series of false accusations are made against my character, frankly, it makes me mad as hell.
COSTELLO: Despite his anger, the accusations continued making their way to a Liberal blog written by mike Rogers. It's dedicated to outing politicians.
MIKE ROGERS, BLOGACTIVE.COM: Well, I think it's important that we expose this kind of hypocrisy in government where elected legislators want to live their lives one way and expect people to live by a different set of rules.
COSTELLO: Craig surely knew his reputation was on the line, so why plead guilty to disorder conduct in a public bathroom knowing his admission would become public record? Dr. Saltz has a theory.
SALTZ: ...there's something that will drive that need to be found out, be punished and have to pay a price because, in fact, they do feel very, very guilty.
COSTELLO (on camera): But now, another denial. Senator Craig has now hired a lawyer so he can change his guilty plea.
Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And stay with CNN for live coverage of the senator's statement to take place right there in Boise, Idaho, at 12:30 Eastern Time.
And this programming note, be sure to stay tuned to CNN tonight for a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, Larry and his guests will discuss the Larry Craig situation, including a look at who might be named as his replacement.
Well, let's talk good luck, right now. One chance in 176 million, some awfully big odds to beat, but at least four people did it. And they are the nation's latest multimillionaires. Check the Mega Millions lottery ticket. If you have one, you could be holding one of those four winning tickets in last night's $330 million drawing. The winning numbers: eight, 18, 22, 40 and 44. The Mega Ball number was 11.
The winning tickets were sold in four states -- New Jersey, Maryland, Texas and Virginia. If you happen to be one of three dozen second-place winners matching five numbers, they may not be -- without the mega ball, you still get a nice chunk of change. Each of those tickets is worth a quarter of a million dollars.
Let's check in with Reynolds Wolf, see if you're lucky enough to get a little sunshine this holiday weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh, poor Mexico, again?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hard to believe, isn't it?
WHITFIELD: To be the bull's-eye again?
WOLF: It's very possible. Sure looks that way.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Reynolds.
And again, we're waiting, Senator Larry Craig's expected resignation announcement at 12:30 Eastern from that location in Boise, Idaho. You'll see it live here on CNN.
Also, next, the audiotape from Senator Craig's arrest that has led to his political downfall.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM you're looking at the left-hand side of your screen, the stage is set for what is likely to be rather awkward, reportedly resignation of Senator Larry Craig about to take place 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. We'll carry it for you, live.
Well, he is expected to announce his resignations just minutes from now, we'll be carrying that. It is the fallout from his arrest at an airport during a sting operation. CNN congressional correspondent, Dana Bash is in Boise, Idaho, and had the audiotapes as well from that incident.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): Upon arrest, Senator Larry Craig insisted he was innocent.
CRAIG: I don't -- I am not gay. I don't do these kinds of things and...
(CROSSTALK)
DAVID KARSNIA, INVESTIGATIVE SERGEANT: That doesn't matter. I don't care about sexual preference or anything like that.
Here's your stuff back, sir. I don't care about sexual preference.
CRAIG: I know you don't. You're out to enforce the law.
CRAIG: I know you don't. You're out to enforce the law.
KARSNIA: Right.
CRAIG: But you shouldn't be out to entrap people either.
KARSNIA: This isn't entrapment.
CRAIG: All right.
BASH: In this eight minute combative interview, minutes after his men's room arrest, Officer David Karsia read Craig his rights and asked for his side of the story.
CRAIG: I sit down to go to the bathroom. And you said our feet bumped. I believe they did, because I reached down and scooted over. And the next thing I knew, under the bathroom divider comes a card that says "Police." Now, that's about as far as I can take it.
BASH: Over and over, the officer told Craig he did not believe him.
I've never had to bring anybody to jail because everybody's been truthful to me.
KARSNIA: I never had to remain in jail because everybody's been truthful with me.
CRAIG: I don't want you to take me to jail. And I think (INAUDIBLE).
KARSNIA: I'm not going to take you to jail as long as you be cooperative, but I -- I'm not going to lie. We...
CRAIG: Did my hand come below the divider? Yes, it did.
KARSNIA: OK. Sir, we deal with people that lie to us every day. BASH: Sergeant Karsnia and Craig go round and round on what really happened in the bathroom.
KARSNIA: Did you do anything with your feet?
CRAIG: Positioned them, I don't know. I don't know at the time. I'm a fairly wide guy.
KARSNIA: I understand.
(CROSSTALK)
CRAIG: I bend to spread my legs...
KARSNIA: OK.
CRAIG: ...when I lower my pants so they won't slide.
KARSNIA: OK.
CRAIG: Did I slide them too close to yours? Did I -- I looked down once. Your foot was close to mine.
KARSNIA: Yes.
CRAIG: Did we bump? You said so. I don't recall that, but apparently we were close.
BASH: The officer accuses the senator of lying when Craig insists he reached under the stall divider with his right hand to pick up a piece of toilet paper and denied using his left hand to give a suggestive signal. It got even more combative.
KARSNIA: It's embarrassing.
CRAIG: Well, it's embarrassing for both...
(CROSSTALK)
CRAIG: But I'm not going to fight you.
KARSNIA: I know you're not going to fight me. That's not the point. I would respect you. And I still respect you. I don't disrespect you. But I'm disrespected right now.
And I'm not tying to act like I have all kinds of power or anything, but you're sitting here lying to a police officer.
BASH: Finally the incredulous officer told Craig he was disappointed in him.
KARSNIA: I expect this from the guy that we get out of the hood. But, I mean -- I mean, people vote for you.
CRAIG: Yes, they do.
(CROSSTALK)
KARSNIA: Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
CRAIG: And I'm a respectable person...
BASH (on camera): When asked if Senator Craig has a response to this audiotape, a spokesman simply said, "No, speaks for itself." And with this highly embarrassing interview buzzing across the Internet, TV and radio, it makes a horrible political situation even worse and well-placed GOP sources tell CNN, they do expect Senator Craig to resign very soon.
Dana Bash, CNN, Boise, Idaho.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, so you heard the tape. What's your view? Do you think he needed to plead guilty? On the right-hand side of your screen you're seeing the live shot of the location in Boise, Idaho, where sources are telling us that Senator Larry Craig will be resigning his post. We'll be taking that live.
Meantime, let's check in with our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, who has been keeping a close watch on this story.
And again, Jeffrey, you got a chance to hear that tape over and over and over again. He said he pleaded guilty to really get rid of what he had been calling a witch hunt that had been launched by a local newspaper and now he's retained an attorney and says he wants to reverse that plea. What are the chances of that?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR LEGAL ANALYST: Slim and none, Fredricka. It is very difficult to end a -- to have a guilty plea undone. There has to be some overwhelming reason that the court should not recognize it in the first place. That the person didn't understand English, that they were under the influence of drugs, that they were coerced, physically threatened into pleading guilty. Those are the grounds for setting aside a guilty plea. Not after the fact remorse, which is all that seems present here.
WHITFIELD: Interesting, OK. Jeffrey, I've got loads more questions to ask you. We need to take a short break as we get close to this announcement coming out of Boise, Idaho, which we will be carrying live. We're going to take a short break. We'll be right back with much more in the NEWSROOM with Jeffrey Toobin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: We're just minutes away from what we believe to be a live announcement from Senator Larry Craig coming out of Boise, Idaho, after receiving quite a bit of pressure from inside his party and outside for him to step down after these alleged transgressions taking place as part of a sting operation in Minneapolis Airport bathroom, transgressions that he actually pleaded guilty to. Our legal analyst Jeffrey Tobin is on the line with us again out of New York. And so, you know, Jeffrey, he says that he pleaded guilty because, in part, he's a public figure and he thought maybe it would go away quicker. Help me understand that psychologist.
TOOBIN: Well, I think you need CNN psychology analyst, not the legal analyst. I mean, Senator Craig's actions have not been characterized by a great deal of rationality over the past few weeks.
WHITFIELD: Except I guess, in part, he's trying to say that, you know, this way, there would be no trial, it would just be quickly handled legally and, you know, that's it.
TOOBIN: That's right. I mean, I think it is true that he believed that by pleading guilty, the whole thing would just kind of be swept under the rug and go away. I think, frankly, it was crazy to think that. That, you know, a misdemeanor, while not a felony, is still a criminal offense. The fact that he had pled guilty to a crime was almost certainly going to come out at some point, and once it did come out, he was deprived of the opportunity to argue that he was innocent. Once you plead guilty, you are guilty.
If you look at the form that he signed as part of his guilty plea, it very specifically says that the court will not accept a guilty plea from someone who is not guilty. You have to be guilty in order to plead guilty. And, you know, once you've signed a form like that, politically, as well as legally, it becomes impossible to argue that you're innocent.
WHITFIELD: And when you listen to the tape, do you feel as though the conversation between that police officer, the arresting officer, and the senator was everything done by the book or, in your view, might the senator have had a narrow window of opportunity to say that, perhaps he was entrapped or that his intentions were misconstrued, that he was coerced?
TOOBIN: I think he did have the opportunity to argue that he was entrapped or that the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding. I don't know how a jury would have reacted to those facts. Certainly, there's nothing in his statement that makes it clear that he was automatically...
WHITFIELD: All right, let me just interrupt you for a moment, sorry Jeffrey, because we are seeing a little bit of activity at this location where, in the far background, we are seeing the top of Senator Craig's head as he, you know, walks through the hordes of photographers and reporters there who are all poised for what is to be a pretty significant announcement of his expected resignation.
Dana Bash is in that crush of reporters and photographers.
And Dana, this has to be, indeed, an incredibly awkward moment, even though we're seeing a little backslapping and handshaking taking place involving the senator. And even one...
BASH: That's right, incredibly awkward and incredibly tough. You know, the reaction has gone here from just talking to people in the crowd from tragic to sad, to some real anger about, interestingly, at the Republican Party, nationally for doing what they think that they did getting rid of Senator Craig. You see him going up there to the podium. There are probably about 200 to 300, maybe even more, constituents of his Idaho constituents that he has represented for 27 years, in Washington, in Congress and again, there's really a mixed reaction here, but all in all, there's a feeling of sadness.
WHITFIELD: And presumably with the backdrop of his family members right there. Let's listen in on Senator Larry Craig's statements.
It looks like it's going to take a come more minutes there before getting positioned there, Dana.
Well, senator political correspondent, Candy Crowley in Washington, you're watching this as well. Let's see if we can squeeze in one question before he begins to talk.
There was tremendous pressure coming from all sides, but I think what I heard many Republicans most upset with the fact that they didn't hear about this sooner, not before his August guilty plea. Is that your understanding?
CROWLEY: Well, I mean, yes, they were angry that they weren't told but, in the end, it was the pleading get guilty that did him in, there was not -- as Jeffrey was telling you, there was no way to argue this once you've pleaded guilty to something, and you can't say, let's let the judicial system run its course. Why don't we wait and see what happens here because it had already happened and he pleaded guilty. So, there was anger that this blindsided them but, in the end, what really sort of put the nail in this was the pleading guilty.
WHITFIELD: And would it be your, well, the governor's behind him there, Governor Butch Otter, which we expect will also be announcing who the interim may be. Let's listen in, right now, to Senator Craig Larry -- Larry Craig, sorry.
CRAIG: First and foremost this morning, let me thank my family for being with me. We're missing this...
(APPLAUSE)
We're missing a son whose working in McCall and simply couldn't make it down, but for my wife Suzanne and our daughter Shay and Mike to be with me is very humbling.
To have the governor standing behind me as he always has is tremendous strength for me. To have Bill Salley (ph), who has never wavered, and who has been there by phone call and by prayer and his wife, is tremendously humbling. For the leader of our party, Kirk Sullivan, to be standing here who sought immediate counsel with me in this is, in itself, humbling. For Tom Luna, for any public official at this moment in time to be standing with Larry Craig is, in itself, a humbling experience.
For most of my adult life, I've had the privilege of serving the people of Idaho. I'm grateful for the opportunity they have given me. It has been a blessing. I am proud of my record and accomplishments and equally proud of the wonderful and talented people with whom I have had the honor and the privilege to work and to serve. I choose to serve because I love Idaho. What is best for Idaho has always been the focus of my efforts and it is no different today.
To Idahoans, I represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues, but most importantly, to my wife and my family, I apologize for what I have caused. I am deeply sorry. I have little control over what people choose to believe, but clearly, my name is important to me and my family is so very important also.
Having said that, to pursue my legal options as I continue to serve Idaho would be an unwanted and unfair distraction of my job and for my Senate colleagues. These are serious times of war and of conflict, times that deserve the Senate's and the full nation's attention. There are many challenges facing Idaho that I am currently involved in and the people of Idaho deserve a senator who can devote 100 percent of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and of our nation.
Therefore, it is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30th. In doing so ...
AUDIENCE: Yes, yes!
CRAIG: In doing so, in doing ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you, Larry!
CRAIG: In doing so, I hope to allow a smooth and orderly transition of my loyal staff and for the person appointed to take my place at William E. Borah's desk. I have full confidence that Governor Otter will appoint a successor who will serve Idaho with distinction.
I apologize to the people of our great state for being unable to serve out a term to which I have been elected. Few people have had the privilege and the pleasure to represent Idaho for as many years as I have. Each day, each week, each year brought new challenges and opportunities to create a better life for Idahoans. I've enjoyed every moment and cannot adequately put into words how much I appreciate what you have given me, the chance to work for this great state.
I hope you do not regret the confidence you have placed in me over all of these years. I hope I have served you and our state to the best of my ability.
Lastly, Suzanne and I have been humbled beyond words by the tremendous outpouring of support we have received from our friends, our family, our staff and fellow Idahoans. We are profoundly and forever grateful. Thank you all very much.
(APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your attention real quick. Senator Craig will be -- will be putting out a Q&A to answer any questions that you guys might have, and we'll be doing that ...
WHITFIELD: Sixty-two-year-old Senator Larry Craig stepping down September 30th, making it official there during that live press conference there out of Boise, Idaho, after 18 years in the Senate, saying that it would be an "unfair distraction," for him to continue serving as a result of this guilty plea for this misdemeanor of disorderly conduct in a men's bathroom in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the airport there.
Our Dana Bash is there in the crush of reporters. This is exactly what Dana, most people expected to hear today, that he would be stepping down, but this time, flanked by his family members including his wife, a son and a daughter. One of his sons not present because he was somewhere else, but most surprisingly, the governor who was there in the backdrop of the senator at what is an embarrassing, very awkward moment for this state -- Dana?
BASH: That's right, and that really speaks to the big difference in what I've been witnessing here on the ground in Idaho versus what we've been hearing and seeing from the senator's fellow Republicans in Washington and around the country. And that is, that they have been very reluctant here in Idaho to say anything publicly negative about him.
As a matter of fact, that they have made clear that they are going to stand behind him and do what -- until he does what he thinks is right and that is exactly what you saw Senator Craig do today. You saw him face a crowd, it was a mixed crowd.
Some people here were, you could possibly hear them yelling and clapping when he said he was going to resign and others saying, don't go. Some people here think that he -- that this is something that he should not have been forced to do and there is some anger here among some Republicans in Idaho at their national Republican party for the intense pressure that they put on Senator Craig to go.
But you heard him give the speech that a week ago, in a million years, he never would have thought he would have had to give after 27 years serving the people of Idaho in the U.S. Congress, stepping down before his term is up after serving so long and being elected by such wide margins and really being quite popular here.
WHITFIELD: Right, and Dana, help interpret the applause, the outbursts that we did hear when -- exactly when he said, Senator Craig said, you know, I'll be stepping down September 30th, suddenly there was applause and almost a pause in his voice and then someone who yelled out, "I love you."
So, you know, was this kind of his contingent of supporters who were out there applauding for his efforts of coming forward like this, or were there hecklers in the crowd as well?
BASH: Both. There were both people who were here, both kinds of people who were here, I should say. Probably at this point, about 300 people but there certainly were some protesters here, holding signs, applauding the fact that Senator Craig was going to resign, but there seems to be equal, if not more, number of supporters of Senator Craig here and that's why as soon as you heard the applause, his supporters spoke up loudly to try to overcome that.
Look, there's a lot of emotion here and there's a lot of anger, there's a lot of sadness and, frankly, there's a lot of disappointment in the senator.
WHITFIELD: Now, Dana, you know, my interpretation of the governor standing behind him and being there, that perhaps he would be taking to the mic immediately thereafter to announce who the interim senator would be. That didn't happen. So this strictly was a symbolic move on the part of Governor Otter?
BASH: Absolutely. You know, I spoke with Governor Otter just a couple of days ago about this and he was very, very clear. He's somebody who's had some of his own foibles, political foibles. He was arrested for a DUI, for example, several years ago, so he is a politician who understands being under fire.
And he made it very clear that he said, I am not a fair-weather friend. I am going to stand behind Larry Craig and that is exactly what you saw the governor do today and because -- look, they've been friends for decades and that is the difference, I think, in this sort of feeling and the sentiment here among Republicans in Idaho as opposed to those nationally.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dana, thanks.
Our Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley is in Washington, has also been watching this throughout from inside and outside the Beltway.
And so, Candy, do you think that was, you know, quite bold on the part of Governor Otter to be there symbolically to support his friend, yet at the same time, this red state is one in which all Republicans, particularly those in Washington, they covet this position. They want to make sure that the next Republican represents the kind of conservative, conservativism that the entire party wants to embrace, not what now will be Senator Larry Craig's legacy, in part.
CROWLEY: Well, I'm not sure, obviously, they wanted to be behind him to give this some dignity, as you note there has been throughout this week, just sort of a very undignified, humiliating process for Senator Craig to go through.
As Dana mentioned, these are long-time friends and, obviously, they wanted to support him and as she's been reporting, there's a different feel, in fact, in Idaho about whether or not he should have gone and about sticking behind him.
I mean, you know, states are different than the national picture. This is a man who has returned time and time again to his constituents and done town hall meetings and he knows most of them by their first names, so it's hard to cut loose a friend. It's another thing when you're looking at the hard, cold politics of it, which is where the national Republicans were.
WHITFIELD: And so, the national Republicans, what kind of pressure perhaps is on the governor so that the National Republican Party can feel happy and pleased with the governor's choice as a successor to the senator?
CROWLEY: Oh, I don't -- I don't think there's any doubt that they're going to be happy with whatever choice he makes, it's -- as you mentioned, it's a very Republican state. It's a Republican governor. He's going to appoint a Republican replacement here.
And, you know, a lot of people that I talked to said, look, the only way we see really losing this seat would be if Larry Craig ran again. So, this is not a state they're going to worry about too much.
WHITFIELD: Now, what about worries overall for the Republican party? As they look to the next election and in hopes to gain at least one seat at least in the Senate chamber, so as to reclaim the Republican majority in the Senate, is there any worry, especially now that we're hearing this weekend, too, that Senator John Warner out of Virginia stepping down after his term is over?
CROWLEY: Tremendous worry. I mean, the numbers and the atmospherics are running so heavily against Republicans when you look at 2008. There are 22 Republican Senate seats that need to be defended. You mentioned John Warner has announced his retirement. That makes the Virginia seat so competitive. It's one they could lose.
You have others in trouble in New Hampshire, John Sununu, in Maine, Susan Collins, in Minnesota, Norm Coleman. So you have all of these seats that not only do you have to defend, you have to spend money on and the atmospherics are terrible. An unpopular president, unpopular war, yet another scandal with Larry Craig, so this is.
These are hard times for Republicans. Their base is demoralized by all of this, not just Senator Craig but by other things, you know, including how much money President Bush has spent, so there are a lot of, a lot of issues that have demoralized the base and you see that when you go out with some of these presidential candidates and you see it in the numbers in terms of how many, how much money they're taking in, the presidential candidates, as compared to the Democrats. Nearly twice as much money brought in by Democratic presidential candidates.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and you have to wonder whether Republicans are feel -- the feeling is that even though Senator Craig has stepped down effective September 30th, how much it will, this type of incident, perhaps as a part of a string of incidents, you talk about Mark Foley and others and even, you know, say the jumping ship of many of the Bush White House upper-echelon type folks, whether, in fact, the Republican party has any worries that this kind of residual effect might indeed influence '08.
CROWLEY: Oh, they have plenty of worries about that, absolutely because you know, generally, politics doesn't often come down to one thing. It comes down to a lot of things that feed into perceptions and as you know, many Republicans, including the recently departed Karl Rove, think that in part, why Republicans lost in 2006 was not just the war, but the whole corruption, the whole thought that Republicans came to Washington to clean it up and, instead, just sort of fell into the cesspool.
So, they are so worried in the Republican party. It's kind of hard to overestimate that and that's part of why the timing of Senator Craig's troubles was very problematic for them because, as they kick off, you know, the Labor Day, OK, now the 2008 election is coming, they wanted to have some positive, some sort of momentum forward instead of all this sort of stepping back and getting, taking blow by blow.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much out of Washington.
And legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is still with us now. And Jeffrey, we know that Senator Craig would like this to go away. The Republican Party as a whole would like this to go away, and even though the senator said his last day will be September 30th, you have to wonder, even after listening to the tapes of his dialogue between he and the police officer, whether there is any other further legal recourse in which to exhaust on behalf of the senator.
Did those tapes in any way demonstrate that he was coerced or is it even fair or legally sound that these tapes became public information and were released the way they were?
TOOBIN: The only thing that's going to go away is Senator Craig's political career. As a legal matter, this is over, he pled guilty. He got a very minor sentence. The case is over. I would be very surprised if he actually pursues any legal remedy to try to re- open it.
I think he's going to try to rebuild his life as a retired person and I think the best way to preserve his dignity is to talk about this case as little as possible and move on to something else. There's nothing for him to do anymore.
WHITFIELD: All right, Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin, thanks so much.
After 18 years in the Senate, 62-year-old Senator Larry Craig calling it quits, September 30th being his last day on the job. He says that continuing on service would be simply a distraction for his state, simply a distraction for the Senate with so much going on involving this country.
We're going to take quick break for now and come back with more reaction on Senator Craig's resignation and who might replace him. Still don't know for certain who that might be. Live from Boise, Idaho.
And a quick programming note. Be sure to stay tuned to CNN tonight for a special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry and his guests will discuss the Larry Craig situation.
We're back in a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIK TORKELLS, EDITOR, BUDGET TRAVEL: The U.S. Department of Commerce says that eight percent of out-bound travelers are adults with kids. But what's the right age for children to start traveling internationally?
Although it depends on your kid, experts generally agree that there's not much point in taking children under the age of three abroad. They're just not going to get much out of the experience and you'll end up with more hassle than you like. And if it's a big ticket once in a lifetime trip, you're better off waiting until the child is 10 or so.
Also, to make sure kids find a trip engaging, get them involved in the planning. They'll be less likely to complain about an activity if they help choose it. This will mean making some compromises as most kids prefer excitement and action to beautiful views and art museums.
The fact that other countries have their own cultures won't mean that much to kids who have yet to learn about their own culture. Still, as soon as you think your kids will be ready, go for it. There's nothing like broadening a child's horizons as early as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Idaho Senator Larry Craig flanked by his wife, his children and the state governor, announcing just moments ago, just less than 20 minutes ago, in fact, that his resignation is effective September 30th.
Our Dana Bash is there in Boise, Idaho, and witnessed it all live as it happened and as we carried it here on CNN and Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley is in Washington getting the pulse of inside the Beltway on the reaction there.
Let's go to you, Dana, first. What is the immediate reaction of his resignation?
BASH: Well, we just got a statement, Fredricka, from the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell. And I'll read it to you, he said, "Senator Larry Craig made a difficult decision, but the right one. It is my hope he will be remembered not for this but for his three decades of dedicated public service."
Now, this is a man who yesterday called Senator Craig's actions unforgivable and this statement, making clear that he thinks that Senator Craig made the right decision is exactly why you saw Senator Craig, heard Senator Craig say that he simply can't do his job the way he wants to, that he completely understands that.
Quite a different, in his public statement just now, tone and tenor than we heard just four days ago. Four days ago, he was quite defiant, saying, I'm going to fight this. I didn't really mean to plead guilty because I was innocent and insisted that he could still do the work of the people of Idaho.
Said just the opposite here and this kind of statement from his own Republican leader, somebody, Fredricka, who he has been friends with and a colleague of for years, worked in the Republican leadership with for years, that kind of statement, that is why you just saw this extraordinary scene here in Idaho.
And I can just tell you one other thing, while I was talking to you live after this event, our own Kara Finnstrom was here. She spoke with Senator Craig as he was walking away and she asked him point blank if Senator Craig still stands by the fact that he is innocent of these allegations and he responded, absolutely. Senator Craig said that he will have his legal counsel will be coming out with some kind of statement this afternoon. And listen to this quote.
Again, I said he was a little bit contrite when it came to his political future but in terms of the legal battle, he told our Kara Finnstrom we'll be fighting this like hell, this meaning the legal battle.
So, it's going to be quite interesting to see Senator Craig won't be on the political stage but it seems like he is definitely going to try to -- still try to clear his name.
WHITFIELD: And that is very interesting because when we talked to our Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin moments ago, he said, you know, really the senator has exhausted all of his legal outlets to continue on with this case. Well, so it will be interesting to hear exactly what his counsel has to say.
Meantime, after the senator, still we have yet to learn who might be the interim senator. Who would take his place, any idea?
BASH: Well, the leading candidate seems to be the current lieutenant governor, Jim Risch. He is sort of at the top of the list when you talk to any Republican official here. The governor, it's his job to actually replace the senator with an interim senator. You saw him standing behind Senator Craig. They have been friends for decades, so he has made it very clear that he is not going to say a word officially about this until sort of -- a little bit of time has passed. Unclear how long that time is going to have to be.
I can just tell you that a Republican source did -- just here a little while ago, did tell me that Congressman Mike Simpson, who was on the short list, that the governor kind of quietly told him he's probably not going to be tapped, so that even, that makes even more signs point to the lieutenant governor, Jim Risch, but we'll see.
WHITFIELD: Now that's interesting because -- yes, apparently Simpson may have been vying for that position in the first place anyway once his term was over ...
BASH: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...but we'll talk more about that in a moment.
All right, thanks so much, Dana. And we'll be talking again, too, with Political Correspondent Candy Crowley right after a short break and find out what the political ramifications are of all of this.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, less than 30 minutes ago, making it official there out of Boise, Idaho, Idaho Senator Larry Craig making it official, saying he's stepping down as of September 30th after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct at a Minneapolis airport. He still maintains his innocence, that nothing was done wrong in telling our own Kara Finnstrom who is there in Boise, Idaho. We heard the statement being read from our Dana Bash who is there.
And as the senator was making his statement, he had a backdrop of a beautiful mountainous scene there, but also his loving family members as well as the governor also standing behind him, a very long- time friend, the senator been in office there for 18 years.
Our Political Correspondent out of Washington, part of the best political team on television, Candy Crowley joining us again with her analysis on this.
And what was interesting, too, Candy, while we heard out of Dana's report that the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, made a statement following this senator's resignation and his words were very compassionate as opposed to four days ago, he was an angry Senate minority leader.
Why was that so important, if not for Mitch McConnell, who is also a long-time friend of Senator Craig, but perhaps for the entire Republican Party, to change the tone like that?
CROWLEY: Well, first of all, because they're trying to turn the corner here and -- but what they don't want to do, I mean, look, they got him out. So at this point, for the minority leader to say to him, I hope we remember him for the good things he's done. Remember, he also said he did the right thing. They don't have to push him anymore at this point. So, there's a natural kind of backing off.
WHITFIELD: All right, much more with the best political team on television, including Candy Crowley and our Dana Bash when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com
