Craig leaves accidental voice mail reconsidering resignation
A half-hour before his Saturday news conference announcing his plans to resign, Sen. Larry Craig left a voice mail--at a number he apparently didn't intend to dial-- stating his intent to possibly rethink the decision.
Roll Call obtained the following voicemail (mp3) from a Washington D.C. resident.
"Yes, Billy, this is Larry Craig calling. You can reach me on my cell. Arlen Specter is now willing to come out in my defense, arguing that it appears, by all that he knows, that I’ve been railroaded and all of that. Having all of that, we’ve reshaped my statement a little bit to say it is my ‘intent’ to resign on Sept. 30.
“I think it is very important for you to make as bold a statement as you are comfortable with this afternoon and I would hope you could make it in front of the cameras. I think it would help drive the story that I am willing to fight, that I’ve got quality people out there fighting in my defense, and that this thing could take a new turn or a new shape; it has that potential.”
David M. Drucker and Emily Pierce write for Roll Call, "Although it could not be determined who the Senator was trying to reach when he incorrectly dialed the phone number, Craig recently hired Washington, D.C., lawyer Billy Martin, who put out a statement Saturday in support of his new client."
Excerpts from Roll Call article:
#
Craig spokesman Dan Whiting confirmed Tuesday that the incoming phone number identified by the cell phone where the voice mail was left is in fact the Senator’s cell number. The cell phone’s owner, who requested anonymity, said Craig’s number has shown up on his phone as a missed call a handful of times over the past several weeks, but said that this was the first time the Senator left a message.
But Whiting dismissed any notion that Craig’s statements on the message suggest that he may be strategizing to clear his name for the purpose of jettisoning his planned resignation and remaining in the Senate. Whiting said Craig delayed his resignation by one month primarily to give his staff time to find other jobs and allow his as-yet-to-be appointed successor to benefit from an orderly transition.
“Larry said what he said on Saturday. He told his staff he intends to resign, and the staff is certainly preparing the office for the next Senator from Idaho,” Whiting said.
#
FULL REG. REQUIRED ARTICLE AT THIS LINK
|
