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| The '''Mark Foley scandal''' concerns ] ]s (IMs) and suggestive ]s allegedly sent by ] congressman ] to former ], and the handling of information about the allegations against Foley by the congressional leadership of the Republican Party.<ref name="buzz">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2006/09/a_note_from_the.html|title=A Note from the Editors|date=2006-09-30|accessdate=2006-10-02|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|work=The Buzz}}</ref><ref></ref><ref>The emails that started the scandal have been characterized as "overly friendly", "suggestive.", or "questionable". ] of ] described the IMs discovered later as "sexually explicit."</ref> Foley's computer-based conversations with these ] are under investigation by the ] (FBI) and the ] Department of Law Enforcement for possible criminal violations. The questionable conversations took place between 2003 and 2005. | |||
| Foley resigned from Congress on ] ], immediately after ] acquired copies of the explicit messages. He was chairman of the ], which introduced legislation targeting ]s and creating stricter guidelines for tracking them. Foley was also the deputy Republican ]. | |||
| Foley checked himself into a rehab clinic and on ] ], Foley’s lawyer stated, "Mark Foley has never, ever had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor in his life. He is absolutely, positively not a ]." He also stated that Foley himself was a victim of sexual assault by a clergyman as a child, and that the inappropriate conversations were the result of a secret ], and concluded by saying that Foley is ].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/us/03foley.html?ex=1317528000&en=facfda09162eea42&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss | title=Pressure Grows for G.O.P. Over Foley Scandal| publisher=New York Times| date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref><ref name="clergy">{{cite news| url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2523829| title=Foley Says He Was Abused by a Clergyman|publisher=ABC News|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> | |||
| ==Events== | |||
| Several current and former congressional employees recalled Foley approaching young male pages at parties, going back many years. According to one page, who served in summer 1995, "Almost the first day I got there I was warned. It was no secret that Foley had a special interest in male pages." He added that Foley on several occasions had asked him out for ice cream.<ref name="icecream">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-foley3oct03,1,3384120.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true| title=Foley Saga No Shock to Some|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> Another page, Matthew Loraditch, stated that when he served in 2001 pages had been warned to "watch out for Congressman Mark Foley." <ref name="ABC2001>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/gop_staff_warne.html | title=GOP Staff Warned Pages About Foley in 2001 | publisher=] | date=October 1, 2006 | first=Anna | last=Schecter | accessdate = 2006-10-01}}</ref> | |||
| Other pages have disputed this recollection and Loraditch himself later clarified by stating that he had ''not'' been warned. Rather, he had been told informally by a supervisor that "Foley was a bit odd or flaky." That advice did not indicate "in tone or otherwise" that Foley was dangerous or needed to be avoided.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Palm Beach Post|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/10/02/1002page.html|first=Christine|last=Grimaldi|title=Page disputes warning about Rep. Foley|date=2006-10-02|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref> | |||
| In 2005, Foley sent five emails, some of them suggestive, to a 16-year-old former page sponsored by Rep. ] (]-LA). Among other things, Foley asked for a photo of the page, and expressed admiration for the physique of another young male friend. The page forwarded the emails to a colleague in Alexander's office, saying "this really freaked me out," and repeating the word "sick" 13 times to describe the photo request. He added, "if you can, please tell Rodney about this." <ref name="resigns">{{cite news| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4225891.html| publisher=Houston Chronicle| title=Foley Resigns From Congress Over E-Mails| first=David| last=Espo| coauthors=Jim Kuhnhenn| date=2006-09-29| accessdate=2006-09-29}}</ref><ref name="CREW">, ] press release, October 2, 2006</ref> | |||
| A number of news organizations, including the '']'', acquired copies of these emails from undisclosed sources. The ''Times'' editors decided it was probably just a "friendly chit-chat." Nonetheless, they assigned two reporters to investigate in November 2005. The recipient of the email refused to cooperate with the story, and no other pages they interviewed had complaints about correspondence with Foley. The newspaper revisited their investigation "more than once," ultimately choosing not to break the story.<ref name="buzz" /> The ] also obtained an early copy of the emails but decided the messages were too ambiguous for a story.<ref>{{cite news| title=Papers Knew of Foley E-Mail but Did Not Publish Stories|publisher=New York Times|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/washington/03media.html}}</ref> | |||
| Alexander learned of the email in 2005, apparently after a news reporter brought the matter to his attention.<ref name="resigns" /> Alexander spoke to the boy's parents, who did not wish to pursue the matter beyond stopping the emails. At that time, Alexander informed Rep. ] (R-N.Y.), chairman of the ]. Alexander's staff also contacted the staff of ] ], who referred the matter to the House Page Committee chairperson, Rep. ] (R-IL), and to the ]. They asked Foley to cease contact with the boy and "closely watched" his subsequent contact with pages. | |||
| On ] ], two months before the scandal broke, the ] (CREW) received copies of the emails.<ref name="CREW">, ] press release, October 2, 2006</ref> On that day, CREW turned over the emails to the FBI; however, the FBI found insufficient grounds to open a criminal investigation. After the scandal broke, CREW asked the ] Inspector General to investigate that decision.<ref name="CREW" /> | |||
| On ], ], a ] named ''Stop Sex Predators''<ref>http://stopsexpredators.blogspot.com/ ''Stop Sex Predators'' blog</ref> publicly released the emails. The widely-read political blog ] drew readers' attention to the posted emails on ].<ref>, ], September 27, 2006</ref> The next day, ] reported on the same set of e-mails.<ref name="ABC28">{{cite news | url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/sixteenyearold_.html | title=Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman | publisher=] | date=September 28, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-09-18}}</ref> | |||
| Foley's office confirmed that Foley had sent the messages but said it has a practice of asking for photos of individuals who may ask for recommendations and that the page had requested a recommendation.<ref name="ABC28"/> | |||
| When Foley was initally confronted about the e-mail he accused his election opponent of orchestrating a smear.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/sixteenyearold_.html | title=Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman|publisher=The Blotter, ABC News|date=2006-09-28|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> | |||
| After the initial revelations of suggestive emails, several pages came forward with a series of sexually explicit instant messaging conversations that Foley allegedly had with other teenage male Congressional pages. Some said they had not shared the events earlier because Foley was a powerful Congressman.<ref name="exclusive_the_s.html">{{cite news | url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/exclusive_the_s.html| title=The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation|publisher=The Blotter, ABC News|date=2006-09-29|accessdate=2006-10-01}}</ref> On ] ], in a second story, ] reported that it had seen excerpts of these instant messages. The instant messages made repeated references to sexual organs and acts.<ref>{{cite news|title = Foley To Resign Over Sexually Explicit Messages to Minors|publisher = ABC News The Blotter|last = Ross|first = Brian|coauthors =Sauer, Maddy |date = 2006-09-29|accessdate = 2006-09-29| url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/foley_resigns_o.html}}</ref> | |||
| Foley submitted a letter of resignation from Congress on ], ].<ref name="CQ">{{cite news | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20060929/pl_cq_politics/republicanrepfoleyresignsdropsreelectionbidinfla16_1 | title=Republican Rep. Foley Resigns, Drops Re-election Bid in Fla. 16 | publisher=] | date=September 29, 2006 | first=Susan | last=Ferrechio | accessdate = 2006-09-18}}</ref> The congressman issued a statement, saying, "I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent." | |||
| The failure to investigate Foley's actions in a prompt manner led to widespread criticism, particularly leveled against other Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2514329&page=1 |title=Foley Scandal Sends Tremors Through Other House Races| publisher=ABC News| date=]|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref> <ref name="buzz">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2006/09/a_note_from_the.html|title=A Note from the Editors|date=2006-09-30|accessdate=2006-10-02|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|work=The Buzz}}</ref> On ], Foley checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic for alcoholism.<ref name="negron">{{cite news | title=Florida GOP Names Replacement Candidate| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/02/national/a150628D11.DTL&type=politics |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle | date=October 2, 2006 | accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> The next day, his lawyer announced that Foley had a secret ] and that the inappropriate contacts were made while the Congressman was intoxicated. | |||
| On ], Foley, through his lawyer, claimed that a clergyman molested him as a child.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html |title=Attorney: Clergyman molested Foley as teen| publisher=CNN| date=]|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> | |||
| == Content of the messages == | |||
| Foley's e-mails to the former Congressional page in Louisiana said: | |||
| :"I am in North Carolina...and it was 100 in New Orleans...well do miss DC...it's raining here but 68 degrees so who can argue...did you have fun at your conference...what do you want for your birthday coming up....what stuff do you like to do,"<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/Foley_email3.pdf</ref> | |||
| and | |||
| :"how are you weathering the hurricane....are you safe…send me an email pic of you as well...."<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/Foley_email4.pdf</ref> | |||
| In 2005, the former page forwarded the messages to a House staffer with the comments: "Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously. This freaked me out," and "sick sick sick sick sick." The emails also reached various media outlets at that time, but none covered the story until September 2006, when ABC News published the story about emails making a page "uncomfortable."<ref name="ABC28"/> | |||
| The ABC News report prompted pages who had previously been silent to come forward with other contacts made by Foley through instant messages. The media, House Republicans, and the FBI have stated that they had no knowledge of the IM conversations before the pages came forward in September 2006. According to ABC News, Foley wrote to one page: "Do I make you a little horny?" In another message, "You in your ], too? ... Well, strip down and get relaxed." When told that the page played soccer in boxers and shorts, Foley wrote, "shows your package then." The messages included references to ] and discussion of ] techniques. Foley also stated his desire to undress the page and have sexual relations with him.<ref name="IMtext">{{cite news| url=http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/BrianRoss/story?id=2509586&page=1 |publisher=ABC News |title=Full Text of the Explicit Messages| accessdate=2006-10-01}}</ref> | |||
| According to several former congressional pages, the congressman used the screen name Maf54 on these messages. One exchange included: | |||
| Maf54: do you really do it face down | |||
| Teen: ya | |||
| Maf54: kneeling | |||
| Teen: well i dont use my hand...i use the bed itself | |||
| Maf54: where do you unload it | |||
| Teen: towel | |||
| Maf54: really | |||
| Maf54: completely naked? | |||
| Teen: well ya | |||
| Maf54: very nice | |||
| Teen: lol | |||
| Maf54: cute butt bouncing in the air | |||
| In another exchange, Foley proposed to meet with a former page:<ref name="abcnews-IMs-100206">{{cite news| url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/emails_show_fol.html | publisher=] News | title=E-mails Show Foley Sought to Rendezvous with Page | date=October 2, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| Maf54: I want to see you | |||
| Teen: Like I said not til feb…then we will go to dinner | |||
| Maf54: and then what happens | |||
| Teen: we eat...we drink...who knows...hang out...late into the night | |||
| Maf54: and | |||
| Teen: I dunno | |||
| Maf54: dunno what | |||
| Teen: hmmm I have the feeling that you are fishing here... | |||
| im not sure what I would be comfortable with...well see | |||
| An exchange that took place in April 2003 apparently reveals Foley engaging in ] with a former page as the House voted on an emergency supplemental ] to fund the ]:<ref name="abcnews-IMs-100306">{{cite news| url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/new_foley_insta.html | publisher=] | title=New Foley Instant Messages; Had Internet Sex While Awaiting House Vote | date=October 3, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| Maf54: ok..i better go vote..did you know you would have this effect on me | |||
| Teen: lol I guessed | |||
| Teen: ya go vote…I don't want to keep you from doing our job | |||
| Maf54: can I have a good kiss goodnight | |||
| Teen: :-* | |||
| Teen: <kiss> | |||
| In another exchange, Foley appears to invite the same page to his apartment with a friend to consume ]s:<ref name="abcnews-IMs-100306" /> | |||
| Maf54: we will be adjourned ny then | |||
| Teen: oh good | |||
| Maf54: by | |||
| Maf54: then we can have a few drinks | |||
| Maf54: lol | |||
| Teen: yes yes ;-) | |||
| Maf54: your not old enough to drink | |||
| Teen: shhh… | |||
| Maf54: ok | |||
| Teen: that's not what my ID says | |||
| Teen: lol | |||
| Maf54: ok | |||
| Teen: I probably shouldn't be telling you that huh | |||
| Maf54: we may need to drink at my house so we don't get busted | |||
| As of ], ABC News reported that it had come into possession of as many as "52 separate instant message exchanges, which former pages say were sent by Foley, using the screen name Maf54, to two different boys under the age of 18."<ref name="abcnews-IMs-100306" /> | |||
| ==Knowledge of the emails== | |||
| One set of emails from a former page were known to various reporters in August 2005 and were eventually forwarded to other media outlets, congressional officials, House Republicans, and even the FBI with a request for a formal investigation. None of these groups uncovered the full extent of Foley's actions before late September 2006, prompting the controversy to extend to alleged failures to act. | |||
| === Congressional knowledge prior to September 2006=== | |||
| In August 2005, one page forwarded Foley's emails to an unknown House staffer, who apparently did not pass them to other officials. Later, a reporter who had obtained the same emails sought comment from the office of the page's Washington sponsor, Rep. ] (]-LA), who in turn launched an informal investigation. Alexander said he contacted the boy's family, but that they did not want the matter pursued or publicized.<ref name="resigns" /> | |||
| Nonetheless, Alexander passed on the information to Rep. ] (R-NY) chairman of the ] and to Speaker Hastert's staff.<ref name="resigns" /> They directed the matter counsel to House Page Committee chairman Rep. ] (]-IL) and to the ], Jeff Trandahl. It is not clear whether they actually read the emails. In an official statement by Hastert and an interview with Shimkus's chief of staff, it was said that neither Shimkus nor the Clerk examined the emails. In another interview, Shimkus mentioned reading the emails.<ref>{{cite news| | |||
| title=Internal Review of Contacts With the Office of the Speaker Regarding the Congressman Mark Foley Matter| url=http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=73543|publisher=Office of Speaker Hastert |date=2006-09-30}}</ref><ref name="shimkus">{{cite news| publisher=] |title=Shimkus approached Foley about early e-mails |date=2006-09-30|accessdate=2006-10-03|url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/3CF7F67D826703DA862571F9006E2C2F?OpenDocument}} </ref><ref></ref> Shimkus and the Clerk met privately with Foley, and Shimkus told him to cease contact with the page. The other two members of the clerk committee were not informed, and no formal investigative or disciplinary action was taken.<ref name="GOPaides">{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/washington/01foley.html?ex=1317355200&en=3cc73da1de57ef98&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss | title=G.O.P. Aides Knew in Late ’05 of E-Mail| publisher=New York Times|date=October 1, 2006|accessdate=2006-10-01}}</ref> | |||
| When the story became public, Hastert initially said that he had only learned of the emails when the news broke.<ref name="WP-09-30">{{cite news|last=Babington, Charles and Jonathan Weisman |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092901574.html |title=Rep. Foley Quits In Page Scandal: Explicit Online Notes Sent to Boy, 16| publisher=Washington Post|date=2006-09-30}}</ref> | |||
| Reynolds said on ] that he had spoken with Hastert about the matter early in 2006, after being approached by Alexander to discuss the matter that had been raised the prior year. According to '']'', "Republican insiders said Reynolds spoke out because he was angry that Hastert appeared willing to let him take the blame for the party leadership's silence."<ref name="GOPleaders">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093001265.html | title=GOP Leaders Knew Of Foley's Messages | publisher=]| date=], ] | accessdate = 2006-09-30}}</ref> Hastert's office said that Hastert did not "explicitly recall" that conversation but said he did not dispute it.<ref name="Hastert-9-30-06"/> | |||
| Majority Leader ] told ''The Washington Post'' that he had learned of the emails in the spring. Boehner initially said that he informed Hastert, and that Hastert assured him "we're taking care of it." After Hastert denied knowledge to the press, Boehner retracted his statement, stating that he could not recall the conversation.<ref name="WP-09-30" /> | |||
| ===Media knowledge in 2005=== | |||
| In August 2005, Rep. Foley's emails to one page reached various media sources. During the course of their investigation, media sources — particularly the ''St. Petersburg Times'' — spoke with other pages and examined the emails, but determined them to be "friendly chit-chat". No other pages claimed anything inappropriate, and the emails contained no sexual or explicit conduct. The ''St. Petersburg Times'' said they reexamined the materials "more than once", but never found any reason to run the story. <ref name="icecream" /><ref name="buzz" /> | |||
| ===FBI knowledge in Summer 2006=== | |||
| Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW), a non-profit interest group, obtained the emails sometime in early 2006 and forwarded them to the FBI, asking for an investigation. The FBI concluded the emails were not worth investigating, and CREW called for an outside counsel to investigate this. The FBI has admitted that they "failed" in not opening an investigation when they received the original emails. | |||
| ==Responses to scandal== | |||
| ===Republican response=== | |||
| When Foley's instant message conversations were uncovered, members of Foley's party condemned his actions. House Republicans voted unanimously with Democrats to refer the entire issue for an Ethics Committee investigation. Republican Speaker of the House ] wrote the Attorney General asking for a full investigation both into Foley's actions and into the possibility that earlier clues were not properly acted upon by Congressional officials, representatives, the media, and the FBI.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-01-foley-gop_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA|title=FBI looks at Foley's e-mails to teens|date=2006-10-02|accessdate=2006-10-02|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> | |||
| The National Republican Congressional Committee is now focusing on the upcoming Florida House race, where Foley's seat is now up for grabs. Carl Forti, NRCC spokesman, said on ] ], that the Republican committee would "gladly accept" Foley's $2.7 million campaign fund, should he donate it to them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washington/02foley.html?ex=1317441600&en=05964d30032a0385&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss|title=Review of Messages Sent by Congressman Begins|date=2006-10-02|accessdate=2006-10-02|publisher=New York Times}}</ref> | |||
| Republicans have also focused on containing the fallout from the case, over fears that the accusations could spread, and hurt the entire party in upcoming elections. | |||
| ===Democratic response=== | |||
| On ] ] House Minority Leader ] criticized Republican leaders, who, she said, "have known of the egregious behavior of Congressman Mark Foley, yet were prepared to adjourn tonight without an Ethics Committee investigation." ] chairman ] noted that Alexander had first gone to Reynolds, who was in charge of political operations, and said "That's to protect a member , not to protect a child."<ref name=GOPleaders/> | |||
| Senate Minority Leader ] issued a statement saying that "The attorney general should open a full-scale investigation immediately," adding that the investigation should find out whether GOP leaders "knew there was a problem and ignored it to preserve a congressional seat this election year." <ref> </ref> | |||
| Democrats have also seized on the scandal as an opportunity to help them in the upcoming ]. They have called on Republicans to return any campaign funds that Foley helped raise. The campaign of ], the Democratic challenger for Reynolds's seat, has siezed upon the episode to attack him. This has led Forti to accuse the Democrats of "trying to take advantage of a very tragic and wrong situation."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/us/politics/02child.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Democrats See a Chance to Turn the Tables|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03|publisher=New York Times|first=Raymond|last=Hernandez}} and | |||
| {{cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20061002/cm_rcp/two_narratives_the_politics_of|Title="Two Narratives: the Politics of the Foley Scandal"|publisher=RealClearPolitics|date=2006-10-02|accessdate=2006-10-03|first=Thomas|last=Lifson}} and {{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115979419705279905-iw_BVeCM48F6lGTleSYRB_CxBuU_20061101.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top|first=Jackie|last=Calmes|title=Scandal May Further Alienate Republican Base|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}} Also and </ref> | |||
| ===House Page Board=== | |||
| On ], ], U.S. Rep. ], (]-MI) , the sole Democrat on the board overseeing House pages, said that Shimkus never informed him of his interview with Foley. Kildee said that he was "very upset" that he was kept in the dark about concerns initially raised last year over e-mails sent to a former teenage page by a Republican congressman. "I should have been told. The whole House Page Board should have been told," the Flint, Michigan Democrat told The Detroit News. "(The Congress) should do an investigation right away," Kildee said. "What matters is the safety of the kids. We shouldn't politicize this."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/POLITICS/610020338|title=Mich. Dem who oversees pages was kept in the dark|author=Deb Price|publisher=]|date=] ]|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref> | |||
| Another committee member, ] (R-WV) said that Shimkus had never informed her, either, and that if he had she would have recommended stronger action.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/+/200610027/Capito+says+she+was+not+told+about+congressman's+e-mails/|title=Capito says she was not told about congressman's e-mails|publisher=]|date=] ]|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref> Shimkus said on ] that "I think, based on the information I had, what I did was fine. If I regret something, maybe I should have had Dale with me because now it’s going to be a political football."<ref name="shimkus" /> The committee consists of Shimkus, Capito and Kildee. | |||
| ===Ethics Committee investigation=== | |||
| Late on ], ], Democratic leader Pelosi offered a resolution to direct the ] to create a subcommittee to investigate Foley and the House handling of the situation. Republican John Boehner moved that Pelosi's resolution be referred immediately to the House Committee on Ethics without further debate. Pelosi and the House unanimously agreed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/30/foley.quits/index.html|title= GOP House leaders call for criminal investigation of Foley|publisher=CNN|date=September 30, 2006| accessdate = 2006-10-02}} See also of the debate.</ref> | |||
| === Criminal investigation === | |||
| On ] ] in a letter to U.S. Attorney General ], Hastert requested an investigation into Foley's actions, specifically into the explicit IM's that had recently surfaced. Hastert's letter also requested investigation of persons who knew or had possession of these messages but did not report them to the appropriate authorities. That day, the FBI stated that it was assessing whether any federal laws had veen violated.<ref name="HastertCalls">Susan Davis, , ''Roll Call'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| Former FBI agent and ABC consultant Brad Garrett commented that Foley's actions "add up to soliciting underage children for sex, and what it amounts to is serious both state and federal violations that could potentially get you a number of years."<ref name="exclusive_the_s.html"/> Federal authorities say such messages could result in Foley's prosecution, under some of the same laws he helped to enact.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/exclusive_the_s.html| title= Exclusive: The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation| date=September 29, 2006 | first=Brian| last=Ross| coauthors= Rhonda Schwartz & Maddy Sauer|publisher=ABC News|work=The Blotter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2514770&page=1| title=Foley's Behavior No Secret on Capitol Hill | publisher = ABC News | date=2006-10-01|accessdate=2006-10-01}}</ref> | |||
| == Political impact == | |||
| The '']'', a conservative magazine, called the scandal helpful for Democrats campaigning to regain control of one or both houses of Congress, and said it could have a greater impact than the ] since "a GOP ] scandal is thought to resonate more strongly with the public than one involving the purchase of favors." <ref>{{cite news|url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NTk4MzdjMTQ2OWFhY2I3OGUwZmU2NzY1MDhkODMyY2Q= |publisher=National Review|title=Foley Fallout|date=]|accessdate=2006-10-02|firstname=John J.|lastname=Miller}}</ref> | |||
| On ] ], State Representative ] was picked to fill Foley's spot in the November elections. The Democratic nominee for the seat is ]. Florida law prohibits Foley's name from being removed from the ballot at this late stage, but Republicans hope that voters will recognize that a vote for Foley will transfer to Negron as a substitute candidate. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/02/foley.quits/|title=Report: Foley allegedly tried to meet page|date=]|accessdate=2006-10-02|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Nevertheless, ] ] noted that because of the procedures in Florida, "to vote for this candidate, you have to vote for Mark Foley. How many people are going to hold their nose to do that?" <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100201463.html | title=After Foley, New Fears For the GOP: Some Say Party Could Lose House and Senate | authors=Dan Balz and Jim VandeHei | date=October 3, 2006 | page=A01 | publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| That same day ''CQPolitics.com'' wrote, regarding Rep. Reynolds, that the scandal "may well damage his chances of winning a fifth House term on Nov. 7." <ref>{{cite news | title=House GOP Fundraising Chair Has a New Concern — His Own Seat | author= Marie Horrigan | date=October 02, 2006 | url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/house_gop_fundraising_chair_ha.html | publisher=CQPolitics.com}}</ref> | |||
| For Democrats to regain control of the House, they need to post a net gain of 15 seats in the ]. Foley's Republican-held seat was regarded as unlikely to change hands before the scandal broke, but ''CQPolitics'' changed its rating of the race from ''Safe Republican'' – where it had stood since July – to ''Leans Democratic'' in early October.<ref>Rachel Kapochunas, , CQPolitics.com, October 3, 2006</ref> | |||
| On ], the conservative '']'' called for Hastert's resignation as Speaker over his handling of the scandal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061002-102008-9058r.htm| title=Resign, Mr. Speaker |publisher=Washington Times|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> Hastert has rebuffed this call to resign, arguing he did nothing wrong and is committed to investigating the scandal and leading Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/|title=Hastert ignores call to resign amid Foley fallout|first=Susan|last=Candiotti|publisher=CNN International|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}{{cite news|url=http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061003/D8KH5RN80.html|title=Hastert Stands by Handling of Foley Case|publisher=Associated Press|first=Andrew|last=Taylor|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> Boehner also defended Hastert, writing a letter in response to the ''Times''. A conference call on ] with 100 Republicans had no calls for a resignation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html|title=Attorney: Clergyman molested Foley as teen| publisher=CNN|date=2006-10-03|accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ], a Republican Congressman who received censure in 1983 for having sex with a minor page. | |||
| * ], a Republican Congressman who was convicted of a crime after having sex with a minor. | |||
| * ], a Democratic Congressman who received censure in 1983 for having sex with a minor page. | |||
| * ], a Democratic Congressman who was convicted of various crimes after having sex with a minor campaign worker. | |||
| ==References== | |||
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| </div> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * ABC News. | |||
| * | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 01:27, 4 October 2006
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