New Revelation In Foley Case

His Atty. Says Foley Was Molest Victim As A Teen; Insists He Has Not Had Sex With A Minor

(CBS/AP)  Former Rep. Mark Foley's attorney said Tuesday that his client was molested between the ages 13 and 15 by a clergyman.

Foley had represented the West Palm Beach district for 12 years and was seeking re-election until his sudden resignation last week after the disclosure of lurid online communications with teenage congressional pages.

"This is part of his recovery," David Roth said, declining to identify the clergyman or the church.

Roth also announced for the first time that Foley is gay. He insisted Foley never had sexual contact with a minor.

While Foley's career ended last Friday, the one in jeopardy belongs to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, reported CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

Hastert, R-Ill., on Tuesday rejected a call from the conservative Washington Times for him to resign over his handling of the scandal.

Majority Leader John Boehner, in a letter to the newspaper, also rejects the call for Hastert to step down.

"No one in the leadership, including Speaker Hastert, had any knowledge of the warped and sexually explicit instant messages" Foley allegedly sent to a teenage page.

Boehner also says Hastert had assured him months ago that the matter had been taken care of. "It's in his corner, it's his responsibility," Boehner, R-Ohio, said in an interview on WLW Radio in Cincinnati.

On the road Tuesday in Stockton, Calif., President Bush added his voice to the chorus reacting to the allegations.

"I was dismayed and shocked to learn about Cong. Foley's unacceptable behavior," said Mr. Bush, who is in the West on a trip to support the campaigns of GOP candidates. "I was disgusted by the revelations and disappointed that he would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office... Families have the right to expect that when they send their children to be a congressional page in Washington, that these children will be safe."

The president also said he supports Hastert's call for a full investigation.

Mr. Bush expressed confidence in the speaker's ability to resolve the matter, calling him a "father, teacher, coach."

"I know that he wants all the facts to come out and he wants to ensure that these children up there on Capitol Hill are protected," the president said. "I'm confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement in this investigation."

One senior House Republican tells CBS News that there's a lot of anger at what he describes as "a network of gay staffers and gay members who protect each other and did the Speaker a disservice."

Foley resigned abruptly on Friday and has since checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation program at an undisclosed location.

To speak to former pages like Blake Yocum, Foley's interest in the young students was practically legendary, reported CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson, but this story has been a surprise.

"I feel my close friends who were pages suspected that Congressman Foley was homosexual. But we never suspected pedophilia out of the congressman," said Yocum.

Foley's attorney, David Roth, said Monday that Foley was "absolutely, positively not a pedophile" and had never had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.

Foley's departure leaves a trail of questions concerning the e-mails and instant messages he allegedly sent pages over an unknown period of time. Beyond the details of his actions, Republican leaders fear the impact on the Nov. 7 elections, and the possible loss of their House majority.

[shutupmurtha]

Liberal: News network has headline "Conservative Paper: Hastert Must Go"

[shutupmurtha]

This who scandal is discusting, I thought the republicans were above this. We all already knew the democrats went to pot in the 80's, but this is even more unexceptable for republicans.

This scandal just shows that we cannot have homosexuals in government. From elected democrats like Gerry Studds (Had *** with a male 17 yead old page, did not resign) to Barney Frank (lived and had *** with a homosexual prostitute, did not resign) to Jim Mcgreevy (cheated on his wife with a homosexual while she was giving birth to his child) all they have shown us is that they let their feelings control them.

If anyone would have went after Foley earlier without solid evidence that he had *** with the 16 year old than the republicans would have been called homophobes and the libs would have said its just emails, he didnt do anything wrong, all you neo cons want to do is get rid of homos.

[cathaleen]

Obviously, there are alot of liars in congress.
It seems the only people telling the truth are the Pages. The only conclusions(after reading Foley's instant messages) are that he should be arrested and that anyone who knew of this pedofile's emails should resign immediately. No matter who he or she is - this has to stop now. There are no excuses.

[popeface]

I guess from now on we should always say "Liberal Information Network" before we say CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, or New York Times...you know just so we can let the people know not to take the story to seriously, because obviously the readers are dumb to figure that out themselves.

Thankyou for spoon feeding me your thoughts CBS, I am to stupid to figure things out myself.

Why doesnt CBS cover all the newspaper articles from the "conservative" papers...lol, even the ones that dont call for his resignation???

Why choose just one story from "conservative" paper...lol. There is no longer any shame in the CBS bias, why the heck does anyone put up with this??? Let us decide for our selves CBS!!!! Does the Washington times say on its paper...THE WASHINGTON TIMES..CONSERVATIVE NEWS PAPER, or did CBS choose to throw that in for more propaganda power.

STOP TELLING US WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THE STORIES.

STOP ABUSING YOUR POWER!!!! OR AT LEAST STOP SAYING YOU ARE A NEWS AGENCY!!!! ALL YOU DO IS PUSH YOUR AGENDA ON US!

[isaacroll]

The idea behind calling it a "conservative" paper is that it lends some credibility to suggesting Hastert's ouster. Everybody knows that a paper with a liberal reputation would want Hastert out.

You geniouses already pointed out that you don't trust a "liberal" news agency (part of the vast left-wing conspiracy, I'm sure). CBS is saying "Even your boys think he should go."

As trolls, you guys aren't that great. Consistent, to be sure, but low quality. I hope your boss fires you for spending all day online trolling the CBS forums. Get a life.

[mjv2944]

And what they said Clinton did was wrong?? Least he did it with the opposite ***. I'm afraid our congress is full of these types and they cover up for one another. VOTE THEM OUT!!!!

[getcentered]

Why are we so angry?

Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... Republican... Democrat...... SHUT UP!

Or why don't we blame it on the media: Republican... Democrat...... Fox..... CBS....... NYT.

HERE IS THE DIALAOG IN THIS COUNTRY?

We haven't had any for about 6 years.

All we have is name calling now.

IT'S TIME TO GROW UP PEOPLE!!

THIS COUNTRY NEEDS A CHANGE!

YALL BETTER BE VOTING.

[getcentered]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE THEN:

Get as much information about the subject from as many sources as possible.

GET INFORMED.
GET CENTERED.
THEN:

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE.

[nynative1340]

Both Hastert and Duncan Hunter are the poster children for term limits. Hastert must be senile if he can't remember something as important as being told there's a pervert in Congress. So, either way, cover-up or senility, he should go. There's no room in Congress for perverts or senility. And there's no room for these old pharts who don't do anything except take up space and time.

Both Senate and the House terms should be limited to ten years, period. This is supposed to be public service, not a freaking life-time power and wealth-building career. How many Senators are millionaires? Almost all of them. What a scam...

[getcentered]

Wow nynative1340!

Well said.

Thanks!

[grumpas]

I have never heard the like of comments from whining Republican's! You people investigated Bill Clinton to death (if he hadn't been a honest man he wouldn't have made it the first year)! You wasted millions of the taxpayer's money to do it! From the day he decided to run your "right wing" news media's bashed him endlessly! To where there is a whole generation of people out there who hate him because they were told too! Every last little thing you fought him on! Until you finally scraped the bottom of the barrel and came up with Monica! Where have all the investigates been these last 6 years???? Where has all the "righteous indignation" you people are noted for been when Bush was committing high crimes and treason????? Now you have the audacity to cry like a bunch of two year olds when one of your "PERVERTS" is caught! And some of your party tried to cover it up! As I remember you people tried to impeach Clinton for lying to congress! I think it's time you show us how many moral's you REALLY HAVE and try one of your own! But, we all know that's not going to ever happen! You make excuses for your criminal's and say they are being picked on! Well, if you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen!!!!

[mjv2944]

Guard Our Perverts / these phoney sob's need run out of town on a rail. Nynative is right, this shows that terms are what we need. These characters get entrenched and think they are above the law. Conservatives my as-, they are spending us to death, this has to be the most corrupt administrationa dn congress in the history of America. Its amazing how we can survive such corruption.

[mwitten2]

The "Foley Affair" is just the latest example of the corruption and immoral behavior of the Republican Party! I suggest that you exercise your rights and vote on November 7th.

[houser123]

The idea that the leadership of the House would take this approach "Hastert said his top aides and Rep. John Shimkus, a fellow Illinois Republican overseeing the page program, acted appropriately by trying to resolve the matter as an internal GOP problem rather than mounting a more formal investigation that would have involved Democrats", is absolutely criminal in my opinion. Attempting to resolve a 53 year old male sending "overly friendly" e-mails to a 16 year old page, by means of an internal republican issue, how insane does that sound? If it quacks like a duck, smells like a duck and walks like a duck, its going to be a duck. Can you say coverup?

[djean102]

Pages coming in to the program as early as 2001 were warned that Foley was 'a little off'. So this has been going on for AT LEAST five years. It is still to be proven (and the FBI will be looking into it) who knew what and when. The investigation has already begun by interviewing the pages. It was also known by top level staffers and I can't believe no congressman was aware of this criminal sleeze (hello... they are children) and his proclivities. Gossip is alive and well in any bureaucracy. Just another form of corruption in our incredible HOUSE on the HILL. Gee what a surprise!

[zeebayoubabe]

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN NOT YOUR OWN POLITCAL AGENDAS AND BUTTOCKS. YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE VOTERS. I COULD CARE LESS WHICH PARTY HAS THE MAJORITY, ETC. BUT YOU CAN BET YOUR SWEET BIPPY, I CARE AND WILL VOTE FOR THOSE THAT SERVE TO PROTECT MY BABIES.

[rharrin1]

Now hastert and rice have memory problems remember iran contra hearings I don't know I didn't know seems like republicans can't remember anything when it's convenient.
They also cannot remember what they were sent there for, for the last six years.

[edjohn66]

Why should Hastert resign? Over the past six years, the GOP has gotten away with lying, corruption, gross incompetence, cover-ups and even murder, and yet they have remained the majority party. How is this scandal and cover-up any different? The voters haven't held the GOP accountable before now, why should Hastert stand out as the only Republican to take responsibility and loose power?

The only change will come at the ballot boxes in November. Is this scandal enough evidence of the GOP's true leanings to oust them from power this time? I am skeptical; evidence that the GOP is rotten to the core has been obvious for years.

[edjohn66]

oops! I meant LOSE power.....

[searingtruth]

"The death of a billion worlds is reflected in the eyes of one suffering child."
SearingTruth

"Evil, unchecked, spreads like cancer.
Glory at the Republicans, unchecked, metastasized upon the soul of America."
SearingTruth

"Republicans are in a unique historical position. They are the first group of people raised on this land, who call themselves Americans, that openly proclaim the virtues of torture, secret prisons, extrajudicial abduction, universal surveillance, and dictatorial government."
SearingTruth

"It is time to stop appeasing the Christian-Fascist dictatorship of George W. Bush and his henchmen."
SearingTruth

Request "A Future of the Brave" %u2013 www.searingtruth.com

[PFJinLA]

Its not JUSt the MArk Foley Thing. LEt's not forget Male Prostitute JEff Gannons 200 non press related visits to the white house. OR the Fact that James West Republican Mayor of Seattle was also engages in soliciting underage boys. And Of Course Republican Philip Giordano mayor of Waterbury got 37 years for child molestation during this same time. Why do Republicans keep trying to sweep it under the rug rather than dealing with it? Can we finally investigate JEff Gannon's white house rendezvous?

[searingtruth]

"I have never cared about politics, only people. Especially the children."
SearingTruth

"Fear not, for our children will not suffer so."
SearingTruth

"The myopic vision of humanity may be at least partially attributed to its adherence to battles that can never be won."
SearingTruth

"Republicans have unleashed the dirty bomb of tyranny."
SearingTruth

"Constitutions need not apply.
This is Republican America."
SearingTruth

"If George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or Thomas Jefferson come back to life they are going to give the Republicans a good spanking.
And then put them in prison."
SearingTruth

Request "A Future of the Brave" - www.searingtruth.com

[mdmx66]

James West was not mayor of Seattle. Anyway I really don't understand why DennisHastert should resign. Foley resigned what more do they want. It shows how inept the Democrats are at putting forth any kind of idea or plan. What's their platform going to be "keep our congressional pages safe, vote for us" It's stupid. Or "vote for us, we're honest and they're not". They think they can run on their "coolness" alone. Yea, that's enough since the world is so quiet and content these days. THey live in lala land.

[searingtruth]

From SearingTruth's "A Future of the Brave" -


Mirror

My friends, sometimes the most difficult thing about fighting evil is realizing that it actually exists, and then unambiguously and forcefully calling it what it is.

History shows time and time again that one of evils greatest strengths is its ability to disguise itself as good, or at least a temporary necessity, until that last fatal moment when its revelation becomes clear, indisputable, and inescapable.

So today let us take a clear and unadulterated look into the mirror at ourselves.

Just six years ago we were one of the most respected and admired defenders of democracy and human rights in history. Respected not only by our friends, but even begrudgingly by most of our enemies. In fact, even the fantastic power of our military paled in comparison to the overwhelming might of our moral authority.

Today we are a nation that operates secret prisons occupied by anonymous inmates, illegally abducted and held indefinitely without charge or representation. We are guilty of torture. We are guilty of murder. We are guilty of preemptive war of conquest. We are guilty of the wholesale surveillance of our population, suppressing all hope of privacy and free dissent. And we are guilty of disgracing our nation through the abandonment of even our most basic precepts of morality.

If this is not evil, then nothing we have ever fought against is evil, and nothing we have ever fought for is good.


www.searingtruth.com

[totallyfedup-2009]

http://www.d303.org/news/newsphotos/hastertvisit0806/index.htm

[totallyfedup-2009]

Look at this:

http://www.sugargrove.lib.il.us/site/article.php?story=200608231222168

.

[pakaal]

Hastert keeps saying he didn't have the lurid (or "naughty" as Snow embarrassingly puts it) emails and IMs. Not the point. The point is he knew of improprieties (Foley was well known in Congress for being a predator), he had some emails in hand, he had a complaint from a page. And what did he do? Leave the Democratic member of the page oversight committee out of discussions, and send his cronies over to try and buy off ABC in exchange for killing the story, just before it broke. Hastert and Boehner should step down immediately. And then they should be put on trial for obstruction of justice.

[searingtruth]

From SearingTruth's "A Future of the Brave" -


Truth's Victory

But today I can reveal to you a simple and powerful truth.

A tyrant's only ally is fear.

Just as in a fairytale where the villain cannot exist unless you believe in it, tyranny cannot exist unless you fear it.

Whether fear of personal oppression or phantom enemies presented by the state, terror must be maintained or the cohesion of authoritarian control always disintegrates.

And so today I say to you that the way to victory is easy.

Just stand up and fight.

Unlike our founding fathers, we are not asked to forge towards the defeat of some implacable enemy through fields and valleys awash with filth and blood. We are not asked to leave our homes, our land, and our families on an almost certainly fatal journey with little hope of return. And we are not asked to die the brutal and agonizing death of so many anonymous patriots, whose last anguished cry was freedom, alone on some cold and desolate battlefield.

No my friends, all we are asked to do is stand up and fight with our voices and our unaltered votes.

...

www.searingtruth.com

[diamtool]

People! As this mess unfolds everyone should remember that this is the same gang that have just voted themselves the right to monitor our emails and phone without a warrant, and imprison, detain and torture without evidence. we trusted them to do it because they are the people with morals and values we share.
Righteous types like;
Abramoff
Cunningham
Delay
Foley
Libby
Ney
Safavian
more to come.....
they've all done a heck of a job

[pakaal]

Hey mdmx66, how can Dems be blamed for this? Hastert and Boehner specifically left the sole Democrat on the Page oversight board out of the loop because they wanted to contain the story before it happened. Here's a plan for ya: let's get all the people responsible for this scandal out of office, and put together a better plan for oversight of minors in congress. Obviously the current Republican leadership can't be trusted with the job, look what happens when they're in charge - willful obstruction of justice, and aiding a sexual predator.

[tejasdemo]

Can anybody actually believe how screwed up the republicans are ? Are republicans actual human beings ? Do they ever do anything legal or is everything they do illegal ? Dont worry all you republican nazis out there....they will win again. Gas will go back up. "The Decider" (I still can not believe that a grown man speaks like that )will still be in power completely unchecked and the poor will continue to have to fight wars just too get enough cash to put food on the table.

[gunga_jim]

What is shocking is the shock that is just now being expressed by those charged with leadership of the Republican Party and with safeguarding those pages working for them. Where was there disgust when these events were brought up months ago? It seems that Mr. Hasert is only concerned with protecting the seperation of powers when it serves his branch of government, but no so much when it comes to protecting the rights of the people who vote or minors.

[mdmx66]

Not blaming the Dems for this but don't think it's such a BIG deal that it should bury the Republicans. I mean really. The guy didn't touch the kids and he's already resigned. Done deal.

[gunga_jim]

You couldn't or shouldn't have a guy like this as a teacher, why would you allow him as a legislator? What Foley did was very disturbing no matter if he actually touched a page, but so was the leaderships decision to keep it on the "down low". As a boss once told me, bad news doesn't get better with age.

[mdmx66]

Yea, I guess. It's never been that big on my priority list, but sure, he was obviously in the wrong contacting a kid. But from all the brua ha, you'd think he committed something much more sinister than some suggestive email.

[mdmx66]

And besides the "kids" were 16 or 17 (not condoning) not 10 or 12.

[talsian]

After these charges of pedo come out, why do all the politicians want to be photographed with a bunch of children? I thought the goal was to not look like Michael Jackson.

[gunga_jim]

Let me do the math, this guy is 55ish and the pages are 16 or 17. Yes in some states that would be allowed, but for a elected member of national government, not good either ethically or otherwise.

[searingtruth]

"I have never cared about politics, only people. Especially the children."
SearingTruth

"Judge not a word conflicted by deed."
SearingTruth

It's not "You have nothing to fear unless you're doing something wrong".
It's "You have nothing to fear unless the government is doing something wrong."
SearingTruth

"The death of a billion worlds is reflected in the eyes of one suffering child."
SearingTruth

"When everything is secret, everything is legal."
SearingTruth

"History does not record a government of the people assured in secret."
SearingTruth

"Law without justice is simply tyranny."
SearingTruth

"Any country, who by power of its moral authority and appeal to conscience obtains world predominance, will certainly perish when asserting its right to immoral and unconscionable crime."
SearingTruth

"Crimes against humanity must be punished."
SearingTruth

"Republicans have given us a new 'F' word.
Freedom."
SearingTruth

Freedom Clock - www.searingtruth.com

[talsian]

"But from all the brua ha, you'd think he committed something much more sinister than some suggestive email"

Either you don't know what was done or you are a sick, sick puppy. Look up "wikipedia Mark Foley scandal" to get the low down that you won't get from a major media outlet. If you still think that it's okay, then you probably have a problem.

[mdmx66]

Look, I never said it was OK. I said it's a done deal. He resigned, what more do you want.

[tejasdemo]

Bush is " shocked and dismayed " that his fellow republicans are once again shown to be the slick haired creeps slouched down in the back of the porno theater ?

Why, I'm shocked and dismayed that Bush is shock and dismayed.

[mdmx66]

Talsian, I did look him up on Wikipedia, and Mark Foley obviously did a lot more good in which to be judged than this stupid lapse in judgement.

[talsian]

"Another IM conversation allegedly included cyber***, but had to be cut short so Foley could vote on the House floor." -wikipedia

You still want to defend this guy?

[searingtruth]

"Truth is self evident. Evil demands lengthy explanation."
SearingTruth

"Evil thrives in mortal fear of truth, to prosper only in secret."
SearingTruth

"The problem with truth, if you're evil, is that you can't fight it."
SearingTruth

A wise man was once asked "Amongst two, who is my enemy? One demands a loyalty based upon secret trust, the other a fellowship based upon open truth."
The wise man answered "The one believes you are a fool."
SearingTruth

"I have always felt that truth brings its own peace."
SearingTruth

Freedom Clock - www.searingtruth.com

[juliehg-2009]

Lift a rock & you're likely to find worms...

[pakaal]

Let's get serious here. Last Friday, just before ABC released the graphic emails and IMs, Hastert asked the Republican National Congress Chair Tom Reynolds (!) to personally go and cut a deal with ABC for unlimited access to Foley for interviews in exchange for not printing the emails. Hastert and Boehmer specifically left the Democrat member of the Page Oversight Board out of the loop on the Foley situation for months. Hastert didn't know about the lurid emails - but it took all of a day for ABC to come up with them after hearing about the first ones. Hastert could have called for an investigation and come up with the same info just as easily. But he chose not to. This doesn't just smell like a coverup, it quacks like one too. Put the blame where it belongs; at Hastert and Boehmer's feet.

[rhondaanne-2009]

Alexander, Hastert, Shimkus, Boehner, Reynolds - they all should resign. They all had knowledge of the "overly friendly" e-mails, yet did nothing. Anyone with the most elementary knowledge of pedophilia knows, if they saw e-mails like this, that it is only the TIP of the iceberg. Also, if they saw these e-mails, did they actually think this was an isolated incident, and that it has never happened before? I think not. And Foley claims it's because of alcoholism? Heterosexual alcoholics don't get drunk and decide to have *** with children. If Republicans don't like October surprises, they should have dealt with this when it first happened, rather than giving Foley a pass to continue his sick behavior.

[juliehg-2009]

Ask any psychiatrist or profiler the definition of a pedophile. You'll find the MO is to groom the vicitms by complimenting them, giving them gifts, gaining their trust. Too bad Oprah didn't have Foley on her most wanted list. Someone, specifically the pages, would have received a $100,000.00 reward!

[ender18-2009]

Foley is a dirtbag. Big surprise that the republicans had no regard for the children at risk and covered it up so they could continue to promote their self serving war mongering agenda.