Craig's son says his dad is telling truth
Greg Kreller
More Photo Galleries
mbutts@idahopress.com
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
BOISE — Sen. Larry Craig’s oldest son said Saturday that just before his father resigned, the family asked him “tough questions” about his life and what happened in the Minneapolis airport where he was arrested.
The senator told his son he was innocent of any wrongdoing, and Michael Craig says he believes him.
Michael Craig, 38, also said his father would now try to reverse the “ridiculous” charge that led to his guilty plea. And he said his father wished he had fought the charge, which was lessened to disorderly conduct when he pleaded guilty.
questions,’ believes he
did nothing wrong.
“To be honest with you, we all asked him a lot of tough questions,” Michael Craig said at the Boise Depot where his father made his announcement. “I saw in his eyes that everything he was telling me was the truth.
“When you look in your parents’ eyes, you can tell when they’re telling the truth. After that conversation, I was 100 percent sure.”
Michael Craig stood next to his father as the senator made his announcement before a crowd of onlookers and national, state and local media. He said he wanted to know from his father what was behind reports in the media about his sexuality and the Minneapolis airport incident.
“The media has made so much about it and stories are all over the place,” Michael Craig said. “I just wanted to know what’s going on.”
Michael Craig said people don’t understand his father’s guilty plea. He said anybody’s actions with another person could be misinterpreted.
“In hindsight now he wished he had just fought it” and would have been found innocent, the senator’s son said. “It’s just a misunderstanding.”
After the resignation announcement, Michael Craig said members of the family are coping as best they can with the situation. He said the senator loves the people of Idaho and still wants to do something to help the state. He also said his father would work to “see what he can do about reversing this ridiculous charge.”
“It’s terrible, it’s terrible,” Michael said about the how his father’s problems and resignation have affected the family. “The difference in politics is if this happened to you, you wouldn’t be on CNN.”
But the most important thing in life, he said his parents taught him, is family.
“As long as we stay together, life will be fine,” he said.
The senator’s son said his father is the one suffering
the most.
“It’s not nearly as tough for me as it is for Dad,” he said.
