Ethics committee’s first response not promising for Craig

Sen. Larry Craig’s push to get the Senate Ethics Committee to dismiss an investigation of his case appeared to suffer a setback late today, when the committee issued a letter to GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell that, while still noting that the case is under review, appeared to undercut Craig’s main argument for dismissal. Craig has contended that his arrest and guilty plea in an airport restroom sex-solicitation sting were unrelated to his duties in Congress, and therefore didn’t fall under the Ethics Committee’s jurisdiction.

Citing the Senate Ethics Manual, the committee noted that it “may discipline a member for any misconduct, including conduct or activity which does not directly relate to official duties, when such conduct unfavorably reflects on the institution as a whole.”

The bipartisan committee’s heads, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Vice Chairman John Cornyn, R-Texas, also suggested in the letter that the panel will drop the investigation if Craig resigns. “In past matters the committee has closed inquiries where the subject of the inquiry has resigned or otherwise concluded his or her Senate service. On September 1, 2007, Senator Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate, effective September 30,” the two senators wrote.

Craig was unhappy with the response, and said in a statement, “It is my intent to fight the case before the Ethics Committee while I am a sitting senator. I would prefer to have that case resolved on its merits.” He also noted that the letter didn’t address his attorney’s arguments that pursuing his case would violate 200-plus years of precedent. Click here to read the committee’s letter to McConnell.