Federal Judge to Determine Whether Larry Craig Improperly Spent Campaign Funds to Defend His Toe-Tapping Antics

Former Senator Larry Craig's infamous Minneapolis airport restroom cruising is back in the spotlight, McClatchy reports:

A federal judge this week will confront the surprisingly important fallout from former Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig’s 2007 bathroom arrest.

Craig’s own money may be on the line Wednesday, but that’s not all. Other politicians, too, could have a future stake in what U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson says about how campaign dollars can be spent.

The Federal Election Commission says Craig improperly used more than $216,000 in campaign funds to pay attorneys after being charged with disorderly conduct for his behavior in a Minneapolis airport men’s room. Craig’s attorneys insist he was on official business and so could use his campaign treasury as other legally embattled lawmakers have done before him. The judicial resolution to this dispute could have a broad reach.

Craig is now a principal in New West Strategies, a self-described “strategic advocacy” firm with offices in Washington and Eagle, Idaho.

No word on how often he visits his old stomping ground on layovers.

Larry Craig Sued For $217,000

Poor Larry Craig. The ex-senator, famous for his wide stance in airport bathrooms, is currently fending off demands from the Federal Elections Commission that he personally repay the $217,000 spent on his legal defense in the gross/funny/sad leadup to his resignation in 2007.

From the AP:

The FEC sued Craig in June in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleging he converted the campaign money to personal use by spending it on his legal defense after he was accused of soliciting sex in a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport bathroom. The commission argues Craig's defense had no connection to his campaign for federal office.

The ex-senator begs to differ. He insists out that his trip to the airport was pure business -- was constitutionally mandated, in fact, because he was headed to D.C. to fulfill his senatorial duties -- and as such, any expenses incurred while using the airport's amenities ought to be reimbursed by the United States government. Craig and his lawyers claim the assertion has precedent. From the AP:

In documents supporting his bid to have the complaint dismissed, Craig cites the case of former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona, who tapped campaign money in 2006 to defend himself after allegations of improper behavior emerged against him following a Grand Canyon rafting trip with two former male pages.

Larry Craig to Co-Host Radio Show, Won't Take Toe-Tapping Questions

Former Idaho Senator Larry Craig will be filling in this afternoon for conservative host Nate Shelman on his Boise-based radio show this afternoon:

"Shelman, who will be vacationing, said Craig will field phone calls and focus on politics, elections and the economy. Shelman said he doesn’t expect Craig to take questions about his 2007 conviction for misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection with a sex sting in a men’s room at the Minneapolis airport. 'It’s an understood agreement,' Shelman said. 'I don’t think he wants to relive it.' Craig has phoned in to speak with Shelman since retiring in 2009, but Monday's three hours in the Boise studio will be his first extended appearance. "

Watch: Sherry Vine's Genius Lady Gaga 'Alejandro' Parody Goes After Closeted Politicians

Sherry Vine goes after Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) , former Senator Larry Craig, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and other allegedly and non-allegedly closeted politicians in her latest Gaga extravaganza.

Should feel ashamed, should feel ashamed, you're a homo
No one to blame, no one to blame, you're a homo.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

If you missed Vine's previous parodies of "Telephone" and "Bad Romance" you can catch them HERE and HERE.

 

Speechwriter: Bush Didn't Want to Tell a Gay Kid He Couldn't Marry

The Huffington Post's Ryan Grim has published a trove of nuggets from the forthcoming book from former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer, Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor. Two I've lifted for this crowd:

Bush, when told that Idaho Sen. Larry Craig had been the latest GOPer to be caught in a sex scandal involving boys or men: "What is up with all these Republicans?"

For a commencement address at Furman University in spring 2008, Ed Gillespie wanted to insert a few lines condemning gay marriage. Bush called the speech too "condemnatory" and said, "I'm not going to tell some gay kid in the audience that he can't get married." (Of course, Bush ran his 2004 campaign telling that kid just that.)

Here's the book's description, for those of you who haven't seen the TV pre-press: "As a young political geek, Matt Latimer dreamed of one day heading to Washington to work for a conservative president and usher in another Reagan Revolution. With the support of his slightly mortified liberal parents, he tried to do just that -- but his youthful exuberance began to cool as he moved up the rungs of power. On Capitol Hill he worked for a Congressman who “misremembered” basic facts, assisted a U.S. Senator who hid from his own staff, and met another who cowed her male aides into carrying her purse. Finally ensconced in the White House as one of George W. Bush’s chief speechwriters, he soon realized that the post wasn’t at all what he’d envisioned. Less like Aaron Sorkin’s 'The West Wing' and more like NBC’s 'The Office,' D.C.’s most prestigious address turned out to be a bizarro world in which the major players were in some ways mirror opposites of their public images. 

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/20/bush-in-2008-im-not-going_n_292876.html

News: Michael Jackson, Tortoise, Whitney Houston, Caymans, Halo

Former Idaho senator Larry Craig opens consulting firm.

Police surround Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray's house in Las Vegas. Murray administered Jackson Propofol the night before his death. Home raided.

Docked Space Shuttle and ISS transit sun. FLASHBACK: Space Shuttle and Hubble transit sun.

Aspray: The cure for stank ass.

Halo vs. Already Gone: Did Ryan Tedder sell Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson the same song with different lyrics?

Bill in Uganda would ban free speech on behalf of LGBT people: "Recently, [Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity James Nsaba] Buturo said that once the two bills are passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality. He also said it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to support their cause."

Nearly-extinct Galapagos tortoise may become father at the age of 90.

Whitney Houston moves up date of album release, offers free track on website.

Gay cruise to visit Cayman Islands again: "Three years ago, Atlantis Events brought 3,200 gay tourists to Cayman. A small number turned out to protest when the passengers came ashore in 2006, but the visit passed off without much disturbance. Mr. Yuan said he believed people’s attitudes had changed since 1998, and that the tourism industry in Cayman had extended a welcome to Atlantis and its customers."

ACT UP veteran and film and music critic Robert Hilferty takes own life.

Confirmed: Jake Gyllenhaal to play Joe Namath.

Josh & Josh visit World Outgames for Passport magazine.

Protect Marriage chairman Ron Prentice holds secret meeting, tells followers to pray for LGBT divisiveness in repeal of Proposition 8.

Boy George says Elton John helped him through prison experience: "Elton offered me love and support from both himself and David [Furnish]. He also sent me a lovely music player...Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Antony Hegarty and Holly Johnson wrote to me too. The only time I got emotional in prison was when I got letters from friends. People that beforehand I wouldn’t have thought I could rely on."

Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge bartender killed in car wreck.

Tired of vampires yet?

Grace Jones plays Hollywood Bowl.

ACLU of Florida gets $150,000 in funding from Tides Foundation to help end Florida's gay adoption ban.

500 protest Gay Pride in Charlotte, North Carolina: “We are not here to have a confrontation…We are here to send the message that God has a better way.”

$294K: Proponents of Vermont's marriage equality bill outspent opponents by a margin of 7 to 1. "Meanwhile, same-sex marriage opponents spent only $41,769 on their campaign, according to final disclosure forms filed Monday."

UN grants official status to LGBT Brazilian organization: "The victory for the Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians and Transsexuals marks the third consecutive year the U.N. Economic and Social Council has overturned a decision by a 19-country committee blocking gay groups from participating in the global body's debates."

William Shatner makes poetry of Sarah Palin speech.