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Craig Is Back on the Job

Idaho Senator returns to Senate after sex scandal

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Sep 18, 2007 5:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – Larry Craig returned to the Senate today, 2 weeks after he announced his resignation and 3 weeks after news broke that he was caught up in a sex sting in an airport restroom. The Idaho conservative cast two votes and had lunch with some Republican colleagues, but others—including John McCain—gave him the cold shoulder, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Minority leader Mitch McConnell, who has called Craig's behavior "unforgivable," didn't speak to him, either. Several Republicans and at least one Democrat greeted him with a handshake, Reuters reports. Asked whether his return indicated he had rethought his resignation, which is scheduled to take effect on September 30, Craig said, "No, not at all."

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., gestures while meeting reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, to discuss a conversation with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. (AP... (Associated Press)

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is questioned by reporters after a vote, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Craig returned to Washington Tuesday for the first time since public disclosure... (Associated Press)

The bathroom at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis where U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was arrested in a sex sting is shown Monday Sept. 7, 2007. Karen Evans, information... (Associated Press)

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Craig Is Back on the Job