Ethics committee ready to probe Foley case

[tocqueville]

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Speaker Dennis Hastert's job is on the line as members of the House ethics committee decide how to launch a credible investigation of former Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record)'s salacious computer messages to teenage pages.

An extraordinary political spectacle surrounded the committee's first scheduled meeting Thursday. Republicans publicly blamed Hastert for failing to take action after he was warned about the messages, and a former Foley aide said he told Republican leaders about the Florida congressman's conduct years earlier than they have acknowledged.

With Republicans concerned about maintaining their congressional majority in the Nov. 7 elections, political support for Hastert was ebbing. Republican officials said at least a few disgruntled members of the GOP rank and file had discussed whether to call on the speaker to step aside. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the issue.

Hastert told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday night that he has no thoughts of resigning. He blamed ABC News, which broke the Foley e-mail story, and Democratic operatives for the mushrooming scandal.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20061005/ap_on_go_co/congress_pages_74

[rodeodance]

1. So here is NO RESPONSIBILITY Hasturb blaming abc and Dems!!

.Hastert told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday night that he has no thoughts of resigning. He blamed ABC News, which broke the Foley e-mail story, and Democratic operatives for the mushrooming scandal.

[WCGreen]

2. But Denny, Foley was the one with his dick in his hand.....

typing with the other....

[sugapablo]

13. yeah...blame ABC...

...for reporting on a story of such magnitude.

I've heard of blaming the victims before but damn dude.....get a clue.

[Joe Bacon]

15. Here are the Ethics Committee members, E-Mail them NOW

DEMAND an investigation OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Click on the link and e-mail them NOW!

http://www.house.gov/ethics/CommitteeMembers.htm

[whistle]

3. Probing seems most appropriate

[rodeodance]

4. LOOKY here_ The chiefs of staffs are fingerpointing back and forth.

.......Kirk Fordham, the former Foley aide, said in an interview with The Associated Press that more than three years ago he had "more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene." He declined to identify them, but officials said Scott Palmer, Hastert's chief of staff, was one of them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Palmer said through a spokesman, "What Kirk Fordham said did not happen."

Fordham resigned Wednesday as chief of staff to Rep. Thomas Reynolds (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., the House GOP campaign chief who says he alerted Hastert to concerns about Foley last spring.

Fordham disputed allegations that he covered up any misdeeds by Foley. "At no point ever did I ask anyone to block any inquiries," said Fordham, who was Foley's longtime chief of staff until leaving in January 2004.

[rodeodance]

6. "An extraordinary political spectacle---yup-get the popcorn.

......An extraordinary political spectacle surrounded the committee's first scheduled meeting Thursday. Republicans publicly blamed Hastert for failing to take action after he was warned about the messages, and a former Foley aide said he told Republican leaders about the Florida congressman's conduct years earlier than they have acknowledged.

[rodeodance]

7. Members. here

http://www.house.gov/ethics/CommitteeMembers.htm

[babylonsister]

5. They've been ready for awhile, Hastert is t-t-toast!

The repugs have to stop this train, but I honestly don't think Hastert will be the end of it.

[saracat]

8. Ironic the term is "ready to probe" ! Isn't that what Foley wanted to do?

[truthisfreedom]

9. sigh. i haven't felt this happy in months.

[NOLADEM]

10. Can Hastert, Reynolds et al be charged with accessory to sexual assault

of a child?

They were complicit. They knew what he was doing. They were charged with reporting it. They didn't. And, at least Reynolds took a bribe from Foley to keep quiet ($100K).

So, are they eligible for prosecution for accessory or contributing?

[bklyncowgirl]

11. Now there's a contradiction in terms--House Ethics Committee

Aren't they the people in charge of dragging on investigations until everyone loses interest in the scandal so they can let the offender off with a mild warning?

[Sherman A1]

12. Yup!

I think that is the group! Talk, talk, talk (are they still looking?), talk, talk, talk (time to recess) talk, talk, talk, (nobody looking now). Our findings, He was bad and we asked him not to do it anymore.......

[Wretched Refuse]

14. Yeah good luck with that

Ethics committee in a REthugnikkkan Congress. I don't think so.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. did they have to say "probe"?

i guess if you want something buried for awhile, just send it to committee. of course, nothing of substance will happen until after the elections. nancy pelosi wanted a quick 10 day investigation and was shot down. that's why foley was whisked away to "rehab", so the media couldn't get at him. these folks make me sick.