Q&A with Gov. Otter

For the first time, Idaho Governor Butch Otter is talking on camera about his role in the history making political scandal still impacting the state he leads.

The governor was very frank about the difficulties he's faced trying to prepare for the expected resignation of Senator Craig and then all of the unexpected decisions that have followed. Here are portions of the conversation we had when we sat down in the Governor's office today.

Otter said it was unsettling that the situation in the story kept changing.

Question: Can you think of a time when Idaho has truly been through anything like what we've through since Craig announced and the story was broken about his guilty plea?"

Answer: No, it would be tough. I mean, obviously there are natural disasters - the Teton Dam, some of the fires that we went through this summer - but nothing that seems so controlled at one time, then out of control - the landscape changed every day.

Q: How do you feel about the off-again on-again, now off-again resignation?

A: Well I understand it, you know I understand when your reputation is put at risk you know really when you come in and go out of this world you leave in terms of your reputation, and that's really all you leave with in Congress Sometimes you do have to change your mind. Now, you have to have a good reason, you have to be able to explain that, and whether or not Larry has sufficiently done that, whether or not he has good reasons I say once again I think Larry is going to have to deal with that himself. I can't blame Larry for trying to clear his name, and he thinks he has a better chance of doing that while he's still in office. I have personally told Larry, and I have said so publicly what would be best for the state obviously would be for Larry to resign,  but I never asked him to resign, he still has to make that decision himself.

Q: "If you think it would be better for Idaho why not go ahead and publicly call for his resignation?

A: "Well because I'm not sure that would make any difference."

Otter made it clear that he and Senator Craig remain friends and that he tries to keep in mind all of the good Craig has done for Idaho as he deals with the fallout this situation brings to his office. Carolyn.

You can see the entire interview with governor Otter Sunday at 9 a.m. on NewsChannel 7