Craig Lawyer Courts Public Opinion, Too

The man embattled Sen. Larry Craig turned to in his quest to clear his name, DC superstar lawyer Billy Martin, is a master at both legal strategy and managing public opinion, Politico reports. He shepherded the Lewinsky family through the Clinton sex scandal, positioned Wesley Snipes as the "victim of unscrupulous advice" in a tax evasion case, and most recently managed the plea bargain for NFL star Michael Vick.

In the Vick dogfighting case, Martin is credited with getting the Falcons QB to exhibit remorse, winning him some reprieve from intense public hostility. Craig may be looking for some of the same magic as he attempts to withdraw his guilty plea in the men's room sex sting that became public last week. The Idaho senator yielded to pressure to resign Saturday, but said later he would reconsider if he could escape the charges before Sept. 30. (More scandal stories.)