Senator Larry Craig Watch: No Plea Revocation;Update – Craig Refuses to Resign

*****UPDATE*****

Craig vows to serve out his term in office

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig defiantly vowed to serve out his term in office on Thursday despite losing a court attempt to rescind his guilty plea in a men’s room sex sting.

“I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively,” Craig said in a written statement certain to disappoint fellow Republicans who have long urged him to step down.

Bring on the ethics investigations……

U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) is pictured in these police booking photos taken on June 11, 2007. A Minnesota judge on October 4, 2007, refused to let Craig take back the guilty plea he made after a sex sting arrest, making it likely the Idaho Republican will resign his Senate seat as planned.

Judge denies Craig motion to revoke plea

A Minnesota judge on Thursday rejected Sen. Larry Craig’s bid to withdraw his guilty plea in an airport sex sting, a major setback in Craig’s effort to clear his name and hang onto his Senate seat.

“Because the defendant’s plea was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence … the Defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea is denied,” Hennepin County Judge Charles Porter wrote.

Craig can appeal Porter’s ruling, but it wasn’t immediately clear if he would.

Senator Craig’s arguments to overturn his plea were specious in any case. Craig had over two months to consider his plea and/or to fight for his innocence in the case.

Now, Craig should resign as he promised and retire from public life.

Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho is trailed by reporters as he makes his way to the Senate Chamber in the Capitol in Washington September 18, 2007. Craig, ensnared in a men’s room sex sting, was back on Capitol Hill for the first time since his June arrest was revealed last month.

Previous:

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Craig Will NOT Resign September 30

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Iâ€™m NOT Guilty

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Craig LIKELY to Leave

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Reconsideration Or Sham Resignation?

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Reconsideration?

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Craig Resigns

Senator Larry Craig Watch: News Conference Saturday – Will Craig Resign?

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Resignation Today?

Senator Larry Craig Watch: Senator Ensign Sends a Message

Senator Larry Craig Watch: McCain and Coleman Call for Craig Resignation

Michael Ramirez on Senator Larry Craig

Senator Larry Craig Watch: I am NOT Gay