Oregon Public Broadcasting

Former Idaho Senator Larry Craig is giving up his legal fight and appears ready to move on to life in the private sector. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

Craig’s Minneapolis attorney told the Associated Press that the senator will not ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to review his case. That means his legal avenues are exhausted.

Last month, a Minnesota appeals court ruled that Craig had entered a valid guilty plea to charges of disorderly conduct.

The senator was accused of soliciting sex from an undercover cop in a Minneapolis airport bathroom in June, 2007. He quietly pleaded guilty by mail and sent money to pay his fine.

But after news broke about his case, Craig tried to take back his plea.

His attorneys argued the senator’s written plea didn’t provide the trial court with enough information to allow the judge to determine whether the senator was guilty. The appeals court rejected that argument.

Craig’s three-term Senate career is now over.

Former Idaho Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was sworn in to replace Craig on Tuesday.