Sting Charges Against Craig Harsher Than Some

[Hepburn]

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 6 — The airport men’s room where Senator Larry E. Craig was arrested here in a police sting operation is in one of the busiest areas of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, at the intersection of five concourses and near a bustling mall and food court.

Mr. Craig passed through the terminal regularly as he traveled between his home district in Boise, Idaho, and his Congressional offices in Washington.

The details of his arrest shocked his colleagues and constituents, but he was not the only person ensnarled in the airport police enforcement action against what the authorities said was lewd conduct in the restroom. Thirty-nine other men were arrested here in a three-month period this summer.

A review of their cases and interviews with four lawyers representing many of the accused show how Mr. Craig — who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct but now says he is innocent — fits into the larger picture of the sting operation, and sheds light on his prospects in court should he be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.

More....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/washington/10craig.html?ref=politics

Interesting article, IMO, on others who had been arrested in the same sting which netted Larry Craig. The lawyers for several of these men discuss aspects of the operation and the charges brought against others and the plea bargains and some defenses.

[yardwork]

1. The purpose of this sting operation is clear - they want people to stop doing it.

I don't think that the police or the airport authority wanted to ruin anyone's reputation or put anyone in jail. This sting operation was designed to be a deterrent. They want people to take this someplace else.

[Ian David]

2. Exactly, Take it elsewhere. Like maybe the Congressional gymnasium locker room. n/t

[Bitwit1234]

3. We see where the police officer took the people he caught

pass the public and into a quiet room where he makes the arrest. If they wanted to embarrass people they would make a big deal of it in the restroom, and parade them thru the airport lobby.

[Hepburn]

4. I agree with that totally....

...and the other post, too.

They just want it to stop...and they are not acting to embarrass anyone...just to make sure that this stops.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Then he shouldn't have plead guilty. Too bad, so sad.

[AlCzervik]

6. did the other defendants hand over their business cards and say "what do you think about that"

to try and get their charges reduced or dismissed?