Foley To Name Clergyman He Says Abused Him

Disgraced former U.S. Congressman Mark Foley will reveal to the Archdiocese of Miami the name of the Roman Catholic clergyman he says abused him as a teenager, Foley's civil attorney said Tuesday.

"We've also looked at the issue with regards to the state attorney's office," Gerald Richman said, but criminal charges cannot be filed because the statute of limitations on sexual assault expired long ago. Richman said Foley has not told him the name but has told another attorney. He said the clergyman is still alive.

"It's going to be very clear in the coming days that it is a fact as opposed to any possible allegations that it was a fantasy or something made up for political purposes," Richman said. "The archdiocese is the one that specifically requested this information... They want this to come out, and we are going to cooperate with them."

The archdiocese had no immediate comment.

Foley, 52, a Florida Republican, resigned last month after he was confronted with sexually explicit electronic messages he had sent teenage male pages. He has since entered an alcohol rehabilitation facility at an undisclosed location. Through his criminal defense lawyer, David Roth, he has said he is gay but denied any sexual contact with minors. He has not been charged with a crime.

Foley's abrupt departure left behind an Internet-age sex scandal that shook Republican confidence — and poll numbers — little more than a month before elections at which their control of the House will be tested.

It also threw the spotlight on House Speaker Dennis Hastert regarding conflicting claims about what senior lawmakers knew, when they learned it and what they did about it.

The scenario has put a focus on the race that has sent national resources to a district that was an afterthought a few weeks ago.

Before the scandal, Foley was a popular incumbent who was easily expected to defeat Democrat Tim Mahoney. Now Mahoney is the favorite in the race.

Foley's name will remain on the ballot, but votes for him will count for state Rep. Joe Negron.