Craig gets mixed reaction upon his return to Senate

WASHINGTON — Sen. Larry E. Craig returned to Congress on Tuesday for the first time since the disclosure of his arrest in a sex sting, voting and having lunch with fellow Republicans in an atmosphere described as chilly and awkward.

Craig, who is trying to revoke the misdemeanor guilty plea he entered last month after an encounter with an undercover police officer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, surprised his colleagues by turning up to vote on District of Columbia issues. His attendance came on what is typically a busy day with a substantial media presence because of weekly party policy luncheons.

As he was pursued by reporters, Craig offered hurried responses to questions, saying his presence should not be interpreted as an indication that he was retracting his decision to leave the Senate on Sept. 30. "No, not at all," said Craig, 62, who had not been in Washington the past two weeks after his arrest was made public during the August recess.

Craig said he was fulfilling his duties as Idaho's senior senator and working with "his office, his staff and his colleagues." Asked if he was optimistic that he could get his plea overturned in a hearing set for Sept. 26, he said, "I'd like to be."

Craig has said he would like to try to finish his term that runs through next year if he could get the charge dropped. He appeared Tuesday to be testing the response he would get from his colleagues should he try to return. The reaction was mixed.

As he ventured onto the Senate floor, the Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, welcomed him while others were cool or avoided him altogether. At some points, he was left to stand alone on the floor.

Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican and presidential candidate, had called for Craig's resignation but said, "I don't think that keeps him from attending the luncheon if he wants to."

During brief remarks in the private luncheon, Craig apologized to his Republican colleagues for any embarrassment his case had caused and said he had retained a high-powered legal team to try to clear his name. Those who attended said that he received a smattering of applause but that some were uncomfortable with his presence.

Craig was arrested in June by a male police officer who accused him of making overtures typically associated with a solicitation for sex. He pleaded guilty by mail in August to a disorderly conduct charge and received a $575 fine and a year of unsupervised probation. If he does step down, Craig would be replaced by an interim senator chosen by the governor of Idaho.

A spokesman for Gov. C.L. Otter said the governor had yet to receive a letter of resignation from Craig. "We are still proceeding along as if there will be a replacement, but we cannot and will not name one until such time as we receive a resignation letter from Senator Craig," Jon Hanian, the spokesman, said in an e-mail message.