Republican Congressman resigns today after sending sexual messages to 16 y/o boy

[hsmith]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Let me just use an old Democrat line here.

The timing of this is AMAZINGLY interesting.....

Apparently, according to Thorgrim, I think republicans are innocent in all of this.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Let me just use an old Democrat line here.

The timing of this is AMAZINGLY interesting.....

Better just laugh this one off too then like you guys did all the terror alerts before the 04 election.

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Better just laugh this one off too then like you guys did all the terror alerts before the 04 election.

The only reason I ever even knew what the terror alert was, was when someone was complaining about it. I have NO idea what it is now.

[Scrum]

He checked himself into rehab.

Foley in alcoholism treatment center


MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Former Rep. Mark Foley is in an alcoholism treatment center three days after resigning from Congress amid allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to teenage pages.

A letter containing the information was faxed by Foley to WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, said David Roth, Foley's attorney, on Monday.

"Painfully, the events that led to my resignation have crystallized recognition of my longstanding significant alcohol and emotional difficulties," Foley wrote. "I strongly believe that I am an alcoholic and have accepted the need for immediate treatment for alcoholism and related behavioral problems."

Foley said he deeply regrets and accepts "full responsibility for the harm that I have caused."

He said in the letter that "with the loving support of my family and friends," he made arrangements on Saturday to enter "a renowned in-patient facility to address my disease and related issues."

He said he has instructed Roth to cooperate "fully and completely" regarding "any inquiries that may arise during my treatment."

The fax was apparently sent from Clearwater, Florida, but Roth would not say Monday if that's where Foley is being treated.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Monday it was launching an investigation into allegations Foley sent sexually suggestive e-mails to pages.

FDLE spokesman Tom Berlinger said that the agency on Sunday contacted the FBI -- which is looking into whether any federal laws were broken in the matter -- to inform federal authorities of the Florida probe.

The state agency will be trying to determine whether any of Foley's alleged communications originated in Florida.
Justice Department considering investigation

The Justice Department, at the request of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, also is considering an investigation of how lawmakers handled the allegations against Foley. (Watch how and when House leaders found out about alleged e-mails -- 2:05)

The rare move by Hastert followed calls by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate for a swift inquiry, questioning whether the GOP leadership in the House had improperly squelched concerns about Foley's contacts with pages.

The Florida Republican resigned Friday after his e-mail and instant-message contacts with pages were reported by the media.

Foley, a six-term Florida congressman, was co-chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus and a prominent backer of legislation to crack down on online predators and criminalize child pornography on the Internet. (Watch how politics inspired Foley at age 6 -- 2:44 Video)

The House voted to launch an investigation of his dealings with pages. But in a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Hastert urged the Justice Department to look into who knew about the content of any sexually explicit messages involving Foley "and what actions such individuals took, if any, to provide them to law enforcement." (Watch why the speaker wants an investigation -- 2:34 Video)

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the department will review "whether we can conduct an investigation."

Hastert, an Illinois Republican, also asked the Justice Department and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to investigate whether the former lawmaker violated federal or state law.

Earlier Sunday, White House Counselor Dan Bartlett said he expected a criminal investigation. The administration was unaware of the Foley allegations until last week, he said.
Replacing Foley on ballot

Top House Republicans have said they were aware months ago of e-mail contact between Foley and a teenage male page, but that they had no knowledge of sexually explicit messages that have subsequently come to light.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Republican leaders knew of the Foley allegations and "chose to cover it up rather than to protect these children."

In a letter to the leaders of the Ethics Committee, the California Democrat said that GOP leaders should be questioned under oath immediately and that a preliminary report should be issued within 10 days.

After Hastert's request for an investigation, she said the Ethics Committee still needs to look into the actions of the GOP leadership. "Congress must not pass the buck on investigating this cover-up," she said.

In a brief resignation statement, Foley apologized to his own family and constituents but did not mention the allegations.

After the e-mails were publicized, ABC News released instant text messages allegedly sent by the congressman to other teenage male pages in 2003. (More details)

The scandal comes just weeks before the November 7 midterm elections. Republicans are hurriedly trying to find someone to replace Foley. (Watch how the handling of the scandal puts the GOP on the defensive -- 2:40 Video)

Foley had been favored to defeat Democratic candidate Tim Mahoney and win re-election to a seventh term.

"The Republican leadership knew this was going on, and they had to make a choice," Mahoney said. "They decided to try to hold on to a seat."
Reynolds informed Hastert

Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-New York, said during the weekend that he told Hastert about the initial complaint -- that Foley had been e-mailing a 16-year-old Louisiana boy who had served as a page, asking for a picture of the teen and asking what he wanted for his birthday.

Reynolds chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is the election campaign arm for House Republicans.

Reynolds said that when Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Louisiana, told him about the e-mails, he said the teen's parents didn't want the matter pursued. Alexander was the boy's sponsor.

After an initial denial, Hastert's office said Reynolds brought up the issue of the e-mails in a meeting with the speaker earlier this year.

Reynolds told Hastert in that meeting that an investigation had been done by Rep. John Shimkus and the clerk of the House, who manages the work-study program for youths under 18. Shimkus is an Illinois Republican and chairman of the House Page Board.

Rep. Dale Kildee, the only Democratic member of the House Page Board, insisted Saturday the board did not investigate Foley.

Boehner learned about allegations against Foley from Alexander in the spring, said Kevin Madden, the majority leader's spokesman.

Shimkus said Foley told him he was only mentoring the teen in the first complaint and was concerned about his fate after Hurricane Katrina.

Shimkus said he warned Foley "to cease all contact with this former House page" -- and he said Foley assured him the e-mails would stop.

Approximately 100 youths age 16 and older serve as congressional pages at any one time. Both boys and girls may serve, usually for a semester or two or a summer session, according to congressional documents. (Read about the page programexternal link)

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

The only reason I ever even knew what the terror alert was, was when someone was complaining about it. I have NO idea what it is now.

Don't watch the news then?

[hsmith]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He checked himself into rehab.

what kind of help do you get when you have sex with young boys?

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by hsmith

what kind of help do you get when you have sex with young boys?

He seems to think that part was just a symptom of his alcoholism.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He checked himself into rehab.

For what? Pedophilia?

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He checked himself into rehab.

for alcoholism... what a cop out

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He seems to think that part was just a symptom of his alcoholism.

Yea, my grandfather is an alcoholic and it totally makes him want to have sex with male minors.

[hsmith]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He seems to think that part was just a symptom of his alcoholism.

did GWB molest young boys when he was a drunk

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Let me just use an old Democrat line here.

The timing of this is AMAZINGLY interesting.....

Yea, not to mention there's two versions of the second "bad" e-mail.

It was retyped and "read" to someone orginally. It was reformatted a couple times and now there's two "similar" versions going around.

But the fact is, they've been interpreted and reformated. The original still hasn't been released.

Regardless, Foley must have done something horribly wrong. He checked himself into rehab and resigned. That in and of itself is a sign of guilt. But, this smells of a timed political scandal.

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Don't watch the news then?

Not much.

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He seems to think that part was just a symptom of his alcoholism.

It's a good way to hide from the press I guess. Though he did say this.

"Painfully, the events that led to my resignation have crystallized recognition of my longstanding significant alcohol and emotional difficulties,"

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

It's a good way to hide from the press I guess. Though he did say this.

It's the hot thing to do now.
The Kennedy who hit the barrier in DC, Mel Gibson, now Foley.

[DosEquis]

I just can't wait for the docudrama that blames Foley's and others actions on Al Gore because he invented the internet originally. Then it will show how Bush came up with the second tier, known as "internets" to try and combat the problem. Ted Stevens will then explain that this is not some big truck to pile pedo-kid porn on, but a series of tubes. In the end, its the democrats fault for making young boys and girls use the internet.

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

It's the hot thing to do now.
The Kennedy who hit the barrier in DC, Mel Gibson, now Foley.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I just can't wait for the docudrama that blames Foley's and others actions on Al Gore because he invented the internet originally. Then it will show how Bush came up with the second tier, known as "internets" to try and combat the problem. Ted Stevens will then explain that this is not some big truck to pile pedo-kid porn on, but a series of tubes. In the end, its the democrats fault for making young boys and girls use the internet.