No Charges Expected Against Ex-Rep. Foley

Former Congressman's Lurid Messages To Pages Was Subject Of Lengthy Investigation

(AP)  Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley isn't expected to face charges after a lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages, two federal law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case, said the results of a state investigation would be announced Friday.

They said neither state nor federal charges were expected, although an FBI investigation has not been closed yet.

Foley resigned in 2006 after being confronted with the e-mails and instant messages he sent to male pages. He has since been under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.

Foley's attorney, David Roth, has acknowledged that Foley sent the messages to the teenagers, but has maintained that the Florida Republican never had inappropriate contact with minors. Roth had no immediate comment on the pending announcement.

Shortly after Foley's resignation, Roth announced Foley was gay and had been molested by a priest as a teenage altar boy. Foley also checked himself into an Arizona treatment facility for what his attorneys said was "alcoholism and other behavioral problems."

"Mark does not blame the trauma he sustained as a young adolescent for his totally inappropriate e-mails and (instant messages). He continues to offer no excuse whatsoever for his conduct," Roth said at the time.

Foley represented parts of Palm Beach County for 12 years. He has kept a low profile since coming out of rehabilitation late last year but has been seen occasionally in the West Palm Beach area.

Foley was seen as a shoe-in for re-election in 2006. His resignation received national attention as Democrats were trying to win 15 Republican seats to regain power in the House. Democrat Tim Mahoney won the election after Republicans had just weeks to select a new candidate to replace Foley, whose name remained on the ballot.

Then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and other Republican leaders came under fire for their handling of the Foley matter. Hastert had claimed he did not learn of Foley's messages to the teens until the scandal broke. A House ethics committee concluded in December 2006 that Hastert actually had heard about the e-mails months earlier, as had other Republicans, but the panel did not find that anyone broke rules.

Florida authorities had said their investigation was hampered because neither Foley nor the House would let its investigators examine his congressional computers.

In a letter to the FDLE obtained by The Associated Press, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher wrote that because the data "may contain legislative information that is constitutionally privileged ... and because Mr. Foley has not waived that privilege ... we cannot simply give you access."

The Florida agency had been working with the FBI and Foley's attorneys to gain access to information on the computers. Foley's attorneys have declined to comment throughout the investigation.

Foley himself was the only person who could release the computers for review, but he had refused. It was not immediately clear what information from the computers investigators had been able to review - if any - before concluding their investigation.

House officials said they did not find any sexually explicit photos in a review of some e-mails Foley sent and received through his congressional account, but the e-mails did not include all of Foley's communications.

Some may have been deleted from the main congressional computer server but would likely still have been accessible from an examination of the actual computer hard drives.
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley isn't expected to face charges after a lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages, two federal law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case, said the results of a state investigation would be announced Friday.

They said neither state nor federal charges were expected, although an FBI investigation has not been closed yet.

Foley resigned in 2006 after being confronted with the e-mails and instant messages he sent to male pages. He has since been under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.

Foley's attorney, David Roth, has acknowledged that Foley sent the messages to the teenagers, but has maintained that the Florida Republican never had inappropriate contact with minors. Roth had no immediate comment on the pending announcement.

Shortly after Foley's resignation, Roth announced Foley was gay and had been molested by a priest as a teenage altar boy. Foley also checked himself into an Arizona treatment facility for what his attorneys said was "alcoholism and other behavioral problems."

"Mark does not blame the trauma he sustained as a young adolescent for his totally inappropriate e-mails and (instant messages). He continues to offer no excuse whatsoever for his conduct," Roth said at the time.

Foley represented parts of Palm Beach County for 12 years. He has kept a low profile since coming out of rehabilitation late last year but has been seen occasionally in the West Palm Beach area.

Foley was seen as a shoe-in for re-election in 2006. His resignation received national attention as Democrats were trying to win 15 Republican seats to regain power in the House. Democrat Tim Mahoney won the election after Republicans had just weeks to select a new candidate to replace Foley, whose name remained on the ballot.

Then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and other Republican leaders came under fire for their handling of the Foley matter. Hastert had claimed he did not learn of Foley's messages to the teens until the scandal broke. A House ethics committee concluded in December 2006 that Hastert actually had heard about the e-mails months earlier, as had other Republicans, but the panel did not find that anyone broke rules.

Florida authorities had said their investigation was hampered because neither Foley nor the House would let its investigators examine his congressional computers.

In a letter to the FDLE obtained by The Associated Press, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher wrote that because the data "may contain legislative information that is constitutionally privileged ... and because Mr. Foley has not waived that privilege ... we cannot simply give you access."

The Florida agency had been working with the FBI and Foley's attorneys to gain access to information on the computers. Foley's attorneys have declined to comment throughout the investigation.

Foley himself was the only person who could release the computers for review, but he had refused. It was not immediately clear what information from the computers investigators had been able to review - if any - before concluding their investigation.

House officials said they did not find any sexually explicit photos in a review of some e-mails Foley sent and received through his congressional account, but the e-mails did not include all of Foley's communications.

Some may have been deleted from the main congressional computer server but would likely still have been accessible from an examination of the actual computer hard drives.

[lemonskink]

Well it''s good to know Foley won''t be charged with anything, it''s just too bad the news wasn''t earlier, McCain could have picked him for VP. Larry Craig would make a wonder Secretary of Health, since he''s seen a lot of the inside of bathroom stalls.

[gwjackie]

Just another republican with a little flaw.

[gwjackie]

But he can see the little boys playing from his front door.

[gwjackie]

I kind of thought Hastert was a little funny my self

[brianbwb-2009]

"House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher wrote that because the data "may contain legislative information that is constitutionally privileged ..."

Since when does the constitution provide for keeping secret, information of legislative proceedings that affect the lives of the public?

Other than matters pertaining to a narrow scope of military capability, there should be no secrets kept from the public, on computers the public paid for.

[dburfears]

Let''s see if I have this straight:

Florida''s Republican Administration refuses to prosecute fellow Republican and pedophile Tom Foley.

George Bush''s Administration refuses to prosecute this pedophile.

John McBush puts out advertisements slandering Obama as a pedophile because he wants to teach children how to avoid sexual predators like Tom Foley.

This all must make perfect sense deep inside some GOP smoke room.

[ajmarine111]

Foley himself was the only person who could release the computers for review, but he had refused.



You can do that in a criminal investigation?

[david1737]

Are these the "values" that you want?

(R) Mark Foley is yet another example of the true nature of the GOP (Grand Ole Pedophiles.)

The Republican Party is a bunch of lying criminals!

The Repubs "values" have brought this country the following:

Torture, Treason, and Pedophilia.

[david1737]

Interesting just a few short weeks ago the Repubs insisted that anyone who touched minors should be executed.

[missglo]

This shows how corrupt Washington really is.

[hermitdave]

WOW--lets see now, after a no stone unturned investigation by the FOX there is no evidence that the missing chicken passed through the open gate. All rise as congress votes themselves another raise.

[walt1944-2009]

Tom Foley, a neocon Fascist Nazi Republican, sent lurid e-mails to teenage male pages in Congress and won''t be charged with anything because he was molested by a priest as a teenage altar boy!

Larry Craig, the neocon Fascist Nazi Republican Senator from Idaho, is still in Congress even though he pleaded guilty to trying to "pick up" a male cop in the men''s room at the Minneapolis airport!

David Vitter, another neocon Fascist Nazi Republican Congressman, was trucking prostitutes back and forth between DC and Virginia breaking federal law, but he is still in Congress.

VP Darth Vader Cheney has a daughter who has "come out of the closet" and is living with another woman.

Sarah Palin says its OK for HER daughter to get "in a family way" BEFORE she gets married to the unborn''s father, but its NOT OK for anyone else!

THIS IS FAMILY VALUES???????????

SIG HEIL, WHO IN CORPORATE AMERICA NEEDS HELP NEXT?, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, THE ECONOMY IS FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND!!!, McCain!!!!
sig heil, MY SON IS HEADING FOR IRAQ, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO RUSSIA!!!!!, Palin!!!

[closethippy1]

This is absolute b.ullshit.
In the same way that there''s never been a millionaire executed in the history of the US, now there''s this b.ullshit about a Republican representative getting away with talking dirty *** to an underage boy.
These folks are so shameless they''ll even make up laws to exclude family members who have been caught with illegal drugs or dealing with them.
How can anyone in this country put up with this? Ever since when has the rich become gods to whom we need to revered to the point of excluding them from human law???

[jumkey]

John McBush puts out advertisements slandering Obama as a pedophile because he wants to teach children how to avoid sexual predators like Tom Foley.

Posted by dburfears at 09:30 PM : Sep 18, 2008

The cynicism displayed by McCain here verges on the grotesque. This one lie, this ONE ALONE, shows what a despicable human being the Republican candidate is. And this is just one of an endless catalog of lies McCain/Palin have told.

"Hornorable" Republicans would discard this liar immediately, but sadly there apparently are no honorable Republicans.

Every time this hack pulls out his "I was a POW so you have to vote for me" BS I think, what a disgrace that this coward drags all American soldiers through the mud.

McCain and his supporters are beneath contempt.

[chimpyout]

But wait; there''s more. Dan Burton (R-IN) who had an "illegitmate" child, Henry Hyde (R-IL) whose "youthful indiscretion at age 43 broke up somebody else''s marriage. Don Sherwood (R-PA) beat up his mistress and had to make a financial settlement with secret terms. What about Barr (R-GA) and Livingston (R-LA).
We''ll give Strom Thurmond (R-SC) a pass in view of his statesmanship leading the historic Dixiecrat Party.

[wdh3007]

There is a way out of this financial mess to get the money back 1. Cut off all medical and educational benefits to all illegal aliens in the U.S. 2. Deport 1/3 of all illegal aliens that are currently sitting in us prisons. 3. Indict all CEO''s and CFO''s of Fannie & Freddie Mack and freeze it''s assets. 4. Fire Henry Paulson Sec of Treasury, Chris Cox, and Bernanke and freeze their assets finally investigate why Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and everyone on the 9/11 commission had money in Fannie May and Freddie Mack and make them turn over the money to the American tax payers. In my opinion if this was done or ordered by President Mcain once elected he would save the day and possibly save the country. Bush won''t do it for two possible reasons because he either doesn''t know how or is involved himself.

[riellehunt]

HERE IS FLORIDA **** FOLEY''S EMAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD
[e-mail]
PASSWORD-purplehaze69

[closethippy1]

Democratic Party, the party of NAMBLA
Posted by Bhoogren at 11:15 PM : Sep 18, 2008

What actually happened was that the ACLU was defending someone who was accused of committing the murder of a child because he described the killing.
The person happens to be member of NAMBLA but at no time did the ACLU meant to defend what he believes in, but only his right to be able to write without the fear of being persecuted for it.
This is a huge, huge, huge difference between this sort of litigation and the hypocrisy of defending someone who''s solely on trial for trying to have gay *** with an underage male.

[babooph]

Queer chicken hawks can get away with anything with right connections.Any middle class guy would be on the list of *** predators for life,AFTER the prison time !

[billarynfl]

McCain and his supporters are beneath contempt.

Posted by jumkey

Big talk from a low life liberal backer of baby killing as a sport. So you think your any where near honorable? Not by a long shot. As obaaaaamaaaa says, TYPICAL low life liberal mentality.

[pirmin3]

Repubs take care of their own. Wave the bible and corn hole the congressional pages. The GOP way.

[billarynfl]

Queer chicken hawks can get away with anything with right connections

Posted by babooph

I know what you mean, if it wasn''t for a low life liberal biased media we might be able to get those dems out of office and clean things up in Washington. As it is, the libs get a free ride no matter what they do wrong, they have a different set of rules to live by, they don''t have to answer for their crimes.

[billarynfl]

Repubs take care of their own. Wave the bible and corn hole the congressional pages. The GOP way.

Posted by pirmin3

Typical lib, just don''t get it do you. The only time a democrat waves a bible is whe it''s time for election and they rush to the nearest church steps for a phot-op. Yes sir, just as obaaaamaaaa says, TYPICAL liberal mindset.

[babooph]

Craig,Foley -the real news was in the mens room at the convention-these right to life guys are really something !!

[stn_sage]

Do NOT tell ALL of America that this sick, twisted, disgusting pervert did nothing wrong for which he can be charged! THAT''S bull$hit!

He may not have gotten the chance to violate any of these teenage boys, but he most certainly made illegal use of the internet when he sent those lurid messages to these boys!

To turn that pervert loose on the streets of America, is unconscionable! And it will force someone in the area where he lives to have to protect the community the next time he ''acts out''! Because he''s NOT going to stop! He wants it and he enjoys it too much!

That the Republican party, and federal and state officials are protecting this criminal is unforgivable! Thanks G.ang-O.f-P.erverts! You stink!

[billarynfl]

Craig,Foley -the real news was in the mens room at the convention-these right to life guys are really something !!

Posted by babooTypical liberal, what have you got against the right to life viewpoint? Wouldn''t you want us to defend you if someone didn''t think you were worth letting live? I wouldn''t disagree with them, but I''d still have to defend your right to life, no matter how insignificant and low lifed it is. One shouldn''t kill at all, especially a baby that isn''t big enough to defend itself yet. That''s the adults job, especially the adult male of the community, problem is there''s not many real men left to defend, it''s getting hard to cover all the ground with so few. Too many men are usless these days, they''ve turned into low life cowardly liberals that take enjoyment out of killing someone that is no threat to them. Feeling manly now little one?

[billarynfl]

He may not have gotten the chance to violate any of these teenage boys, but he most certainly made illegal use of the internet when he sent those lurid messages to these boys!

To turn that pervert loose on the streets of America, is unconscionable!

Posted by stn_sage

Yeah, when it''s a democrat that commits these acts, libs say nothing, remember the different set of rules that liberals get to live by?

As far as your remark about letting them go being unconscionable, I agree. That''s why democrats re-elect perverts back to office. Thank you for bringing that to everyone''s attention.

[stn_sage]

To turn that pervert loose on the streets of America, is unconscionable!

Posted by stn_sage
------------------
Yeah, when it''''s a democrat that commits these acts, libs say nothing, remember the different set of rules that liberals get to live by?

As far as your remark about letting them go being unconscionable, I agree....
Posted by billarynfl at 01:24 AM : Sep 19, 2008
------------------
The problem with what you say is the last few years the vast amount of MORALS violations has been GOP politicians and appointees! The next time a Dem gets
caught stalking boys, I''ll be calling for his removal, though I''m not a Dem.

Secondly, nobody has gotten more of a ''free ride'' when it comes to no prosecutions for illegal activities than members of the G.O.P.! So, don''t be surprised that non Republicans on this board don''t take your indignation seriously! From our point-of-view, these guys are just scum crooks who belong in jail, nothing more!

[airboatboy1]

Oh yeah, he went to rehab. Everthing''s OK. Look at the picture of that pervert. You know what he''s thinkin'' about with those lips a puckered-up.

Ahhh - Republicans - they complained about Clinton getting a ******* from a woman, all the while they were dreaming of teenage boys, grown men in restrooms, getting massages from gay male prostitutes and more meth and crack then a drug dealers house.

And they have the gall to call themselves "christian".

[gunfighter51]

Anyone bothering to check Barney Frank''s e-mails.

[slim1h2o]

So,, A high ranking official gets off! Scot free.

In more ways than one.

Hey Mark! Get off Scott, he ain''t free!

Find another way of getting off.

LOL

[dpu3jwallace]

So, Having the U.S Taxpayers PAYING For These TEXT MESSAGES (Records of Which Could Probably Be Subpoenaed From the Phone Company Involved) Isn''t Criminal Behavior? -- WHAT A LAUGH! -- And, WHAT A REPUBLICAN COVER-UP! -- But,After All, He''s a Florida Republican -- and, The Florida Republicans Stuck Us With George Bush.

[closethippy1]

This is absolute b.ullshit.
In the same way that there''s never been a millionaire executed in the history of the US, now there''s this b.ullshit about a Republican representative getting away with talking dirty *** to an underage boy.
These folks are so shameless they''ll even make up laws to exclude family members who have been caught with illegal drugs or dealing with them.
How can anyone in this country put up with this? Ever since when has the rich become gods we need to revere to the point of excluding them from human law???
Another example of how people with means and law enforcement are good buddies.

[slim1h2o]

Posted by onemoretim at 06:58 AM : Sep 19, 2008

Oh so,,, because we have other issues, we should just let this freak go?

You''re right, we have other things to worry about.
Let''s not spend anytime on him.

Through the freak in jail for ten yrs, and forget about him. And we don''t waste any time on him. And bubba gets a new playmate.

See? no fuss no muss, we''re all winners! Even Bubba!

[slim1h2o]

Personally I think they should cut off his nuts with a dull rusty axe. I was merely wondering, with all the problems in America, how do congressmen find the time for their perverted habits?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by onemoretim at 07:24 AM : Sep 19, 2008

Sorry, I misunderstood your post.

But yes,, you are right.

Where do they find the time to have s/ex or talk about s/ex.

And I''m not talking about the unwanted s/ex they''re having with us, if you know what I mean?


LOL

[mytoosense]

This is a conspiracy to blemish the righteous work of the moral backbone of America, the GOP.

If we allow the Godless Democrats to diminish our message by peeking into the privacy of our Closets, Computers and John-Stalls for the purpose of diminishing our righteousness, than America will succumb to being led by humanistic social program supporters!!!

just kidding...

[missingamerica]

"Hornorable" Republicans?

Regards,

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:46 AM : Sep 19, 2008

They have managed to transform that into an oxymoron, haven''t they?

I wonder if they dreamed of leaving this legacy behind when they were little kids?

[mgpm-2009]

They hounded Bill Clinton for YEARS for having s/ex with women and this weirdo gets a free pass. WHY?

[missingamerica]

They hounded Bill Clinton for YEARS for having s/ex with women and this weirdo gets a free pass. WHY?

Posted by mgpm at 08:19 AM : Sep 19, 2008

Really - for instance, consider that Minnesota Republican Senator, Larry Craig.

Given what Monica was doing, I am sure that Clinton, too, was using a "wide stance", which is apparently all it took to exonerate Craig.

[missingamerica]

Ooops...replace "that Minnesota Republican Senator, Larry Craig" with "that Idaho Republican Senator, Larry Craig".

Sorry, Minnesota - he just dirtied your bathroom, not your reputation.

[im4honesty]

Republicans!!!

While a hundred or so of them are stalking our children and hanging out in airport bathrooms, the rest of them are *** the middle class.

[usclimey]

Between this and the first Dude/subpoena story, it''s a bad day for the GOPigs on the Justice side.

[jjp735i]

It figures. When a Republican does something "lurid", it''s not really lurid. So it''s okay to send lurid messages to underage teens as long as you don''t meet up with them? Teen chat rooms will be busy.

[notblue]

YET ANOTHER investigation by the do nothings in Washington, it will be the legacy of this congress.

[clovisbuford]

YET ANOTHER investigation by the do nothings in Washington, it will be the legacy of this congress.
Posted by notblue at 09:33 AM : Sep 19, 2008
errr so you aer saying the FBI should not have investigated what at the very least was innapropriate sexual inuendo by Republican Foley towards some of the pages he was charged with helping to oversee ? or you are saaying because it wsnt your son wasn''t involved its ok ? or are you saying its congress fault because he is a Republican legislator just like Craig buried in the closet?

[luvienne]

Is anyone surprised? It is 2008. No matter how long, people will remember this creep.

[chefrc]

Guess the government has not seen "To Catch a Predator" Those people sent messages to who they thought were underage boys and girls and were arrested immediatly. SAME D@MN THING. That''s your F@G Government taking care of your F@G Government

[notblue]

clovis, please tell me what this congress has accomlished? I think Foley''s approval ratings are higher.

[docpeter1953]

Guess the government has not seen "To Catch a Predator" Those people sent messages to who they thought were underage boys and girls and were arrested immediatly. SAME D@MN THING. That''''s your F@G Government taking care of your F@G Government

Posted by chefrc at 09:56 AM : Sep 19, 2008
____________

You are correct if you make one small correction in the detail(s) you have presented.

On "To Catch a Predator" emails and communication is exchanges with minors, that is very true, BUT arrests are not made until the predator actually shows-up to commit the proposed act. I don''t think I have ever seen that Foley showed for his victims. I do not condone what he did, but he did not complete the act.