Hastert Aide Testifies In Foley Probe

Aide Who Oversaw Page Program For Speaker May Be Among Last Witnesses

(AP)  An aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Wednesday went before ethics investigators in private to explain how the office handled complaints about former Rep. Mark Foley's behavior toward former pages.

Ted Van Der Meid, who testified for about six hours Wednesday evening, appears to be one of the last witnesses. He was the chief liaison between the speaker's office and the House clerk responsible for the page program. The House ethics panel is investigating whether lawmakers and staff aides acted properly when learning of Foley's too-friendly messages to ex-pages and other possible inappropriate behavior.

The panel is in its third week of hearing testimony and seems unlikely to complete its probe before the Nov. 7 elections.

Van Der Meid was a central figure in the handling of a complaint last fall from a former page from Louisiana. Hastert's office was alerted to the "over-friendly" e-mails and dispatched then-Clerk of the House Jeff Trandahl and Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., to confront Foley, R-Fla.

Former top Foley aide Kirk Fordham has told the committee that Hastert's chief of staff, Scott Palmer, knew of earlier incidents involving Foley.

Foley abruptly resigned Sept. 29 after being confronted with sexually explicit e-mails sent in 2003 to a former page from Oklahoma.

No lawmaker has acknowledged knowing of sexually graphic e-mails. They surfaced only after news broke that Foley last fall had sent a too-friendly message to the former Louisiana page. But a small group of lawmakers and top GOP staff aides have known for years of inappropriate messages and rumors of bad behavior by Foley toward pages.

Rather than investigating Foley, the four-member investigative panel is trying to determine who knew about his behavior toward pages and whether more should have been done to stop it.

Trandahl was appointed to the clerk's post — with responsibility over the page program a prominent responsibility — and was in frequent contact with Hastert's office.

A key question for investigators is who else knew about Foley. Fordham's account has been disputed by Palmer, but Trandahl reportedly has backed up Fordham's story.

The panel may want to know what Van Der Meid knew about earlier incidents regarding Foley.

For example, the panel has been asked to look into rumors that several years ago Foley tried to enter the page dorm while drunk, an incident that Fordham has testified about.

Trandahl and Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., learned in 2001 or 2002 of an episode in which Foley sent an ex-page inappropriate e-mails. Kolbe has not been contacted by the ethics panel about testifying, spokeswoman Korenna Cline said.

In those instances, Foley's inappropriate behavior with former pages have been handled by a few staff aides and lawmakers, rather than being investigated more fully. Foley's misbehavior did not cease.

The panel heard Tuesday from Hastert, who urged it to wrap up its investigation quickly. He said he answered questions to the best of his ability, but his recollection differs from other GOP leaders.

Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House GOP campaign chairman Tom Reynolds of New York have said they discussed with Hastert the "over-friendly" e-mails from Foley to the Louisiana teen; the speaker says he does not recall the conversations.

Separately, Foley's attorney's revealed Wednesday that he is being treated for alcoholism at a facility in Tucson, Ariz. Foley has been in a 30-day treatment program at the Sierra Tucson treatment center since Oct. 1.

[teddebare]

bluestardad: I suggest the same for Mr. Hastert. He kept all of this a secret in hope it would go away.

[bluestardad]

Put these criminals in Jail, Rehab is not a Jail.

[kaliveotin]

With all due respect, Captain. America IS governed by fear, fear, hatred and character assination. You apparently haven't been paying attention to the tactics that led the nation to electing Republicans to office since 94 and led us to War in Iraq after 9/11. From Willie Horton to Max Cleland, we know where the fear mongering
comes from. Republicans have long held on to power by promoting fear hatred and character assination. Look at the latest political ad written by Carl Roves protege and used in the Tennessee Senate race.

[bluestardad]

STEP BACK FROM FEAR!
We in America need to pull back from this Frenzy of Fear that has spellbound us since September 11, 2001. I am not saying to let down our guard or not be prudent with our Law enforcement, Intelligence agencies or Military as their constant job is to protect the American people and they do it well. Rationally speaking it is more likely that a person will be killed in a car accident on the way to get milk than killed by a Terrorist in America. Hispanics coming across our border for work are not the terrorist or the enemy. Unfair trade practices initiated by our government are the cause of our jobs leaving and the demise of the Middle Class in America not some Terrorist plot. Political Parties have been using fear in an attempt to maintain power in this country. Americans do the math you are more likely to do yourself bodily harm than to be harmed by a Terrorist. America is a Land of Opportunity and hopes where people live in Freedom. America is not a land were people will be governed by Fear.

Michael C. Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[observantx]

Let's see here.

We have more than one member of Congress or members of their their staff saying they told Hastert all about Foley which he of course denies.

They hold meetings behind closed doors and then won't let any information out until after the election.

How convenient.

VOTE these crumbs out! It's every real American's duty to flush this scum down the drain.

[pakaal]

"The panel is in its third week of hearing testimony and seems unlikely to complete its probe before the Nov. 7 elections."

Let's see, I think that quote calls for some "Hey, not releasing this before the elections is playing politics!" with a sprinkling of "The people have a right to know!"

[bluestardad]

Burn this pedophile, drag him out and make a public example out of him. He has betrayed the trust of his constituents, has been a pedophile, and thumbed his nose at the congressional honor of America for years. He should not be able to deflect his guilt or the consequences of his actions by pointing the finger at some priest in Italy for some 30 plus year alleged offence.