GOP distances itself from Foley e-mail
Democrats say problem ignored
WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders yesterday insisted that they knew nothing about the salacious nature of electronic messages former Florida representative Mark Foley sent to a onetime congressional page, and pledged to examine the page program to ensure the youngsters who work on Capitol Hill are protected.
``I repeat again: The Republican leaders of the House did not have [the messages]," House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said at a news conference yesterday. ``We have all said so -- on the record. But someone did have them. And the ethics committee, the Justice Department, the news media -- or anyone who can -- should help us find out who."
GOP leaders have acknowledged they were aware in 2005 of ``over-friendly" e-mails Foley had sent to another former page, and admonished him to stop. But the lawmakers said the teenager's parents in Louisiana -- who brought the matter to the attention of Representative Rodney Alexander, Republican of Louisiana -- did not want to pursue the matter further.
In retrospect, ``I think that is apparent that would raise a red flag," Hastert, an Illinois Republican, told reporters yesterday afternoon. ``Evidently it raised a red flag with the kid, with the page and that is what triggered this response."
But ``there was nothing explicit" in the messages to the Louisiana teen, Hastert noted. The speaker maintained he did not know until Friday of the more sexually explicit computer exchanges Foley had with another former page in 2003.
The FBI is looking into whether any federal communications laws were broken when Foley sent sexually-charged messages to a former page. In one e-mail to the teen , Foley, 52, graphically discusses specific sexual acts, comments on the teen's body, and writes about his own arousal from the computer exchange. The instant messaging ends with the teen telling Foley he has to finish his English homework. Hastert requested a Florida state inquiry as well.
ABC News, whose report on the messages forced Foley to resign last Friday, yesterday reported it had obtained another e-mail exchange in which Foley appears to be seeking a meeting with a teen. ABC did not identify the youth's name or age.
Had Foley not left of his own accord, Hastert said, ``I would have demanded his expulsion from the House of Representatives."
Struggling to contain the political fallout, GOP lawmakers yesterday sought to keep the focus on Foley alone. But Democratic candidates and the party's leaders hammered away at the GOP majority, accusing them of ignoring disturbing signs about Foley's behavior, dismissing the suggestive e-mails he had sent to the Louisiana teen to help protect Republican political careers.
``Speaker Hastert again failed to answer the question that every mother and father in America is asking: How could Republican leaders choose partisan politics over protecting children?" said House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. ``Republican leaders must be investigated by the Ethics Committee and immediately questioned under oath."
Foley checked himself into a rehabilitation facility in Florida yesterday for what were described as alcohol and emotional problems. Foley's lawyer said his client has been an alcoholic for some time and has never had sexual contact with any teenagers. And in a CNN appearance, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow sought to deflect the potentially explosive revelations, describing Foley's lewd communications as ``simply naughty e-mails." Snow later told reporters the revelations were ``horrifying," but said the matter was the purview of the House speaker.
Hastert and Representative John Shimkus , Republican of Illinois and head of the committee that oversees the page program, also said yesterday they would take a look at the page program, which brings high school students to Washington to deliver messages and documents to lawmakers on the floor, to see if there are any ways to make the youngsters safer. A similar overhaul happened in the early 1980 s, after two congressmen, Gerry Studds , Democrat of Massachusetts, and Dan Crane , Republican of Illinois, admitted they had sexual relationships with underage pages. Studds was involved with a male , and Crane with a female .
But Hastert and Shimkus did not inform Democrats about the situation until after Foley's sudden resignation, infuriating party leaders.
``I was outraged to learn that the House Republican leadership kept to itself the knowledge of Mr. Foley's despicable behavior toward the House pages," said Representative Dale Kildee , a Michigan Democrat who is his party's ranking member on the page committee.
``I am now equally outraged to learn that Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert announced today that there will be changes in the policies of the House page program," he said. ``Once again, I was not informed of the meeting today, nor was I consulted in any way about any proposed changes."
On Sunday, Hastert asked the Justice Department to investigate the matter, including finding out if any members of Congress knew of Foley's behavior, and when they knew it.
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales told reporters yesterday no decision had been made on an investigation. ``We're just beginning to look at it right now. I haven't received a report," he said.
The scandal gives Democrats a strong chance of capturing the Palm Beach, Fla., seat once considered a virtual lock for Foley, a six-term lawmaker.
Republicans yesterday named a new contender, Florida state legislator Joe Negron , to run for the seat. But Foley's name will stay on the ballot.
Further, Democrats and some analysts believe the scandal could imperil other GOP seats, especially if Democrats can convince voters that GOP lawmakers didn't aggressively look into the complaint against Foley when it surfaced last year. 