Republican in Gay Sex Sting Isolated By Party

The Republican party yesterday distanced itself from senator Larry Craig after it emerged he had entered a guilty plea to disorderly conduct in a sex sting in a men's toilet at Minneapolis airport.

Fellow Republican senators, as well as activists in his home state of Idaho and elsewhere, were withdrawing support. Republican senators called for an investigation by the Senate ethics committee.

Police sergeant Dave Karsnia was investigating allegations of sexual conduct in the airport toilets in June when he went into a stall. The complaint against Craig claimed he moved his foot into Karsnia's stall and tapped his foot, "a signal often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct". He also made hand movements. The officer showed Craig his badge.

Craig was arrested, signed a guilty plea, paid $575 (£287) in fines and fees, and was placed on probation for a year.

Although the incident took place in June, no member of the police tipped off the press and it surfaced only this week.

Craig, a conservative from one of the most conservative states in the country, has been critical of gay rights, including same-sex marriage, and was prominent in haranguing former president Bill Clinton over the Lewinsky affair. He is facing re-election next year but may be forced to announce he will not stand again.

The row is the latest in a series of sex and financial scandals to engulf the Republican party. These could damage the party not only in next year's race for the White House but also in congressional elections being held at the same time.

The Republicans have long traded on being the party of family values, close to the Christian right and opposed to gay marriage. Other cases involve fellow Republican senator David Vitter, whose name appeared on the phone lists of the so-called DC Madam accused of running a prostitution ring, and senator Ted Stevens, who is under investigation by the FBI for alleged corruption.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Craig, 62, accompanied by his wife, Suzanne, said: "I am not gay. I never have been gay."

Craig said he had admitted guilt under pressure from his local paper, the Idaho Statesman. On Tuesday, the paper published an article alleging past homosexual behaviour. "While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in hopes of making it go away," Craig said.

"I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney, staff, friends or family. That was a mistake, and I deeply regret it."

Republican leaders in the Senate, who called for an ethics committee review of the case, issued a joint statement describing it as "a serious matter". A Republican hopeful in the race for the White House, Mitt Romney, whose campaign Craig supported, said he was "disgusted" and that Craig had "disappointed the American people". A White House statement said it was disappointed with Craig.

The state Republican party said it would stand by him, but another group, the Idaho Values Alliance, called on him to resign.