Senator Craig and his attorneys cite investigative reporting by the Idaho Statesman newspaper as one of the reasons to justify the withdrawal of his guilty plea. His legal team argues that Craig “was panicked” that his “arrest stemming from an undercover operation targeting gay men in the public men’s restroom at the” Minnesota airport…would be made public and that they would provide the Idaho Statesman with an excuse to publish” an article alleging that Craig engaged in homosexual conduct.
Craig and his attorneys both allege that his June 11, 2007 Minnesota arrest came "shortly after” his May 14, 2007 interview with the Statesman.
It is unclear whether a Minnesota court will agree that the four (4) week period between Craig’s newspaper interview and his subsequent arrest was really “shortly after” his interview with the Statesman.
Craig’s lawyers argue that “his panic drove him to accept a guilty plea” without consulting with and hiring a lawyer to contest the charges.
The Idaho Senator argues that he “repeatedly protested my innocence…but [Officer Karsnia] indicated to me that he believed I was lying.” He argues that because he was “[deeply panicked about the events, and based on Officer Karsnia's represenations to me regarding the potential outcome, my interest in handling the matter expeditiously, and the risk…[of] unnecessary publicity, I did not seek the advice of an attorney on the date of my arrest, and made the decision on that date to seek a guilty plea to whatever charge would be lodged against me.”
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