In the moments after Senator Larry E. Craig was arrested in an airport men’s room, he accused an undercover police sergeant of entrapping him, emphasized that he did not want to go to court or to jail and frequently said, “I don’t recall,” when asked about his reported sexual advances to the officer.

In the moments after Senator Larry E. Craig was arrested in an airport men’s room, he accused an undercover police sergeant of entrapping him, emphasized that he did not want to go to court or to jail and frequently said, “I don’t recall,” when asked about his reported sexual advances to the officer.

The tense exchanges between Mr. Craig, Republican of Idaho, and the sergeant were captured on a nine-minute audiotape made public on Thursday under the Minnesota public records law.

The officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police, read Mr. Craig his legal rights and tried to press him to confess to soliciting sex, calling Mr. Craig’s continued denials disrespectful and disappointing.

“Well, you’re not being truthful with me,” the sergeant said. “I’m kinda disappointed in you, Mr. Senator. I’m real disappointed in you right now.”

Mr. Craig, who was arrested on June 11, told the sergeant that he had been trying to go to the toilet when their feet “bumped” under the stalls.

“Next thing I knew, under the bathroom divider comes a card that says ‘Police,’ ” Mr. Craig said.