TRANSCRIPT: Police Interview With Sen. Larry Craig

Aug. 30, 2007 &#151 -- The following is an unedited transcript of an interview between police Sgt. Dave Karsnia and police Detective Noel Nelson with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, regarding a June 11 incident at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Audiotapes and a transcript of the interview were released today.

Craig was arrested June 11 in an airport bathroom by Karsnia, who was working undercover. Karsnia said Craig exhibited behavior in the men's restroom that was "often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct."

Craig later pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct. When news of the arrest hit the press Monday, Craig issued a statement saying, "I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously."

Under pressure from Republican party leaders, Craig stepped down from his Senate committee leadership posts.

Investigative Sgt. Dave Karsnia #4211 and Detective Noel Nelson of the Minneapolis Police Department intert1162

(NN) INTERVIEW WITH Larry Craig (LC)Case 07002008

Larry Craig: Am I gonna have to fight you in court?

Dave Karsnia: No. No. I'm not gonna go to court unless you want me there.

LC: Cause I don't want to be in court either.

DK: Ok. I don't either.

(inaudible)DK: Urn, here's the way it works, urn, you'll you'll be released today, okay.

LC: Okay.

DK: All right. I, I know I can bring you to jail, but that's not my goal here, okay?(inaudible)

LC: Don't do that. You You

DK: I'm not going to bring you to jail

LC: You solicited me.

DK: Okay. We're going to get, We're going to get into that. (inaudible)

LC: Okay.

DK: But there's the, there there's two ways, yes. You can, you can, ah, you can goto court.

You can plead guilty.

LC: Yep.

DK: There'll be a fine. You won't have to explain anything. (inaudible) I know.LC: Right.

DK: And you'll pay a fine, you be (inaudible), done. Or if you want to plead notguilty, ah, and I, I can't make these decisions for you.

LC: No, no. Just tell me where I am (inaudible) I need to make this flight.

DK: Okay. Okay. And then I go to people that are not guilty, then I would have tocome to court and end up testifying. So those are the two things, okay. Did Iexplain that part?

LC Yes

DK Okay Urn, ah, I'm just going to read you your rights real quick, okay? Yougot it on?

Noel Nelson: Yep.

DK Okay.

DK: Ah, the date is 6/11/07 at 1228 hours. Urn, Mr. Craig?

LC: Yes.

DK. Sorry about that. (ringing phone)

DK: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will beused against you in court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyernow or have a present, a lawyer present now or anytime duringquestioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to youwithout cost. Do you understand each of these rights the way I haveexplained them to you?

LC: I do.

DK: Do you wish to talk to us at this time? LC I do

DK Okay Urn, I just wanna start off with a your side of the story, okay. So, a

LC: So I go into the bathroom here as I normally do, I'm a commuter toohere.

DK: Okay.

LC: I sit down, urn, to go to the bathroom and ah, you said our feet bumped. Ibelieve they did, ah, because I reached down and scooted over and urn,the next thing I knew, under the bathroom divider comes a card that saysPolice. Now, urn, (sigh) that's about as far as I can take it, I don't knowof anything else. Ah, your foot came toward mine, mine came towardsyours, was that natural? I don't know. Did we bump? Yes. I think we did.You said so. I don't disagree with that.