US Sen Craig expected to resign-Republican sources

WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) US Sen. Larry Craig, embroiled in a sex scandal and yielding to pressure from his fellow Republicans, was expected to announce his resignation today, a senior party aide said.

''He has been forced out, essentially,'' the aide said on condition of anonymity, adding that Idaho Gov. CL ''Butch''Otter is expected to name as his replacement Lt Gov James Risch.

While a news conference was scheduled for today amid widespread expectations that he will resign, the aide cautioned that Craig could surprise everyone and announce he will try to hang on and simply not run for re-election next year.

Earlier this month, Craig, a veteran Senate conservative, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after a June 11 arrest in the men's restroom of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

Police were targeting the toilet because of problems with lewd behavior there.

''The state and national parties want him to go. This is what we all want,'' the aide said. ''Everything I hear from the people in Idaho is that the decision has been made. But it is his call. Only Sen. Craig knows what he's going to say.'' In his last public appearance on Tuesday, Craig denied having done anything wrong. He also declared he was not a homosexual and said he had admitted guilt without consulting a lawyer and only ''in the hope of making it (the case) go away.'' The aide said that the Republican National Committee had a statement ready to be issued on Friday urging Craig to step down and that the Idaho Republicans also urged him to quit.

Democrats won control of Congress in last year's elections partly because of Republican scandals, including bribery and one lawmaker making unwanted advances on teenage interns.

Republicans have been wracked by more scandals this year, including an investigation of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, and by Louisiana Sen. David Vitter's admission of a ''serious sin'' after he was linked to ''DC Madam'' Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who is accused of running a prostitution ring in Washington that she says was a legal escort service.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky called Craig's conduct unforgivable in a newspaper interview in Kentucky.

He would not say whether Craig should resign.

Craig served in the US House of Representatives from 1981 to 1990, when he was elected to the Senate.

Craig, a conservative, has voted against measures to expand homosexual rights.

REUTERS SLD RN1900