An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former Idaho Senator Fights Financial Fallout From Sex Sting

Former Idaho Senator Larry Craig's legal and money battles are not over, even eight years after he was arrested in an airport bathroom in a sex sting. About six months ago, Craig was ordered by a federal judge in Washington D-C to pay more than $242,000 to the U-S Treasury Department.

But the ex-senator has asked the appeals court for that district to reverse the order, claiming that the trial judge mis-read the law governing campaign funds. Craig spent nearly $200,000 of his campaign account to defend himself against the criminal charges filed in 2007. His lawyers argue that the Federal Election Commission overstepped its authority in ordering repayment for his campaign funds. Craig should be required to make good the campaign money expenditures only if donors complained, his lawyers said, and so far, no donor has done that.

Craig also wants the appeals court to nullify a $45,000 civil penalty he was assessed in the case, arguing that he's suffered enough. The trial judge had ruled that some legal expenses for media relations and ethics inquiries were legitimate, but that Craig could not use the bulk of the campaign money for direct criminal defense costs.

Related Content