Mark Foley's Emails To Former Teen Intern
Now I don't know if this is overblown or not. This has the potential to be a major controversy for Mark Foley.
In the exchange, Foley asked the boy about weathering Hurricane Katrina and wrote, “send me an email pic of you.” In another email, Foley told the boy he was on a break from Congress and was in Florida. He asked the boy “how old are you now?”
The boy forwarded excerpts from the emails to congressional staffers and said, “Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously. This freaked me out.”
The boy, who is not being identified because of his age, told the St. Petersburg Times in an interview last November, when the Times first learned of the emails, that he cut off correspondence with Foley.
“I thought it was very inappropriate,” the boy told the Times. “After the one about the picture, I decided to stop emailing him back.”
Foley has had an email exchange with another teen office page. The page was surprised that the Congressman contacted him. Foley's people told ABC News that they often asked for photos of interns. That doesn't explain why Foley would need a photo of a former-intern. The St. Petersburg Times reports that thety asked Foley's office about intern hiring practices, a year ago, and photos were never mentioned.
Some excerpts from the email.
glad your home safe and sound...we dont go back into sessionuntil Sept 5,,,,si its a nice long break...I am back in Florida now...its nice here..been raining today...it sounds like you will have some fun over the next few weeks...how old are you now?...
I am in North Carolina..and its over 100 degrees in New Orleans...wow that's really hot...well do you miss DC...Its raining here but 68 degrees so you can argue..did you have fun at your conference....what do you want for your birthday coming up...what stuff do you like to do
how are you weathering the hurricane...are you safe...send me an email pic of you as well....
The teen boy is 16 years-old.
Update: Journalist Bob Norman comes out and states Mark Foley is gay. I asked Norman, in the comments of his blog, what's his sourcing. I'm also concerned that gays will be bashed for Foley's actions. We don't see attractive blonds ridiculed because of Debra Lafave. And they shouldn't be. Whatever Foley's actions are do not represent the gay community.
Update: Here are other posts on the Mark Foley story.
Mark Foley Resigns
St. Petersburg Times Sat On Mark Foley Story
St. Petersburg Times Blows It On Mark Foley
The Tom Reynolds, Dennis Hastert & Mark Foley Connection
FBI Investigating Mark Foley
White House Opposes independent investigation into Foley
Mark Foley in Rehab
More Pages Talk About Foley Emails
Matt Drudge Blames Kids For Foley Troubles
Jeb Bush Letter to Dennis Hastert
Hastert Made Same Mistakes With Foley As He Did With Delay
Labels: bob norman, mark foley, st petersburg times
posted by Michael Hussey @ 11:47 PM
28 Comments
28 Comments:
i dont see anything he did or said wrong. all he asked was how he was doing in the storm, his current age and to forward him a picture. i'm lost as to what all the rage is about, show me something more or maybe there are other email i've not seen, but this is NOT what the media is making it out to be
I agree. From the news stories, I thought it was much worse that what the actual email texts are. Maybe there is more to it that hasn't been published yet, but I honestly can't see what is so horrid about these emails...a little odd possibly, but there is nothing illicit in there. I'm a mother of 2 teenage sons, and I wouldn't be outraged at all about such an email sent to one of my sons. If the guy starting asking that the teen meet him secretly or something, that would be a different matter, but they seem pretty harmless to me.
It sure looks like a lot being made about nothing. Where is the "HARD" evidence that Rep Foley did something out of line. If he is in charge of a committee that looks in to pedophile matters, I would expect him to talk to a 16 year old as another 16 year old would. I would like Rep Foley to stand up for himself if he is innocent of any wrongdoings.
I agree...what's the big deal? I've been watching CNN and dedided I should try to find more info. I see nothing innapropriate.
Take a look at this ! MARK FOLEY IS SICK !
2001 — A Republican staff member warns pages “to watch out for Congressman Mark Foley.” A former page says that they were told “don’t get too wrapped up in him being too nice to you and all that kind of stuff.” [ABC, 10/1/06]
2003 — Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) has sexually explicit IM exchanges with an underage boy who worked as a Congressional page. [ABC News, 9/29/06]
SUMMER 2005 — Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) sends inappropriate emails to another former Congressional page. [CREW]
SEPTEMBER 2005 — Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA), who sponsored the page, learns “of the e-mails from a reporter.” [AP, 9/29/06; CQ, 9/30/06]
FALL 2005 — “Tim Kennedy, a staff assistant in the [Speaker J. Denis Hastert’s] Office, received a telephone call from Congressman Rodney Alexander’s Chief of Staff who indicated that he had an email exchange between Congressman Foley and a former House page…[Mike] Stokke [Deputy Chief of Staff for Speaker Hastert] called the Clerk and asked him to come to the Speaker’s Office so that he could put him together with Congressman Alexander’s Chief of Staff.” [Hastert Statement, 9/30/06]
LATE 2005 — Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the House Page Board, “was notified by the then Clerk of the House, who manages the Page Program, that he had been told by Congressman Rodney Alexander (R-LA) about an email exchange between Congressman Foley and a former House Page.” Shimkus interviewed Foley and told him “to cease all contact with this former house page.” He did not inform Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), the only Democrat on the House page Board. [Roll Call, 9/29/06]
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006 — Alexander tells NRCC chairman Tom Reynolds about “the existence of e-mails between Mark Foley and a former page of Mr. Alexander’s.” Reynolds tells Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) about the emails and his conversation with Alexander. [Reynolds Statement, 9/30/06; Roll Call, 9/30/06;
You idiots need to get your heads out of the sand. You dont see that attempting to subduce a young man is something wrong? Or are you so political you will excuse anything for political reasons. I fear that is so. How sad. On the other hand, maybe you havn't look far enough. Just google Mark Foley's instant messages with Congressional page. In quotes. If you still fell the same after seeing that, I suspect you need to examine yourself. Cheers.
How old was this former intern when the e-mails started? Not looking to defend the freak - but - if the person is over 18... it's disgusting but legal.
This is from Wikipedia, you be the judge:
Content of the messages
After the email revelations, several pages came forward with a series of sexually explicit instant messaging conversations that Foley allegedly had with other teenage male pages. According to ABC News, Foley wrote to one page: "Do I make you a little horny?" In another message, "You in your boxers, too? ... Well, strip down and get relaxed." When told that the page played soccer in boxers and shorts, Foley wrote, "shows your package then." The messages included references to sexual organs and discussion of masturbation techniques. Foley also stated his desire to undress the page and have sexual relations with him.[9]
One former page said that people involved in the page progam had warned his class about Foley. Others said they had not reported Foley because he was a powerful Congressman.[10]
Former FBI agent and ABC consultant Brad Garrett commented, "Adds up to soliciting underage children for sex, and what it amounts to is serious both state and federal violations that could potentially get you a number of years."[10] According to ABC, it is possible that Foley will be prosecuted under laws that Foley himself helped enact.[11]
THE UNDERAGE PAGE WAS 16 DURING THE TIME OF THE EMAILS.
FOLEY WAS 51 AT THE TIME OF THE EMAILS - ONLY 35 YEARS OLDER THAN THE PAGE!
As an ashamed Republican out here in Hastert's home state, I say time to boot all Republican leaders who knew about Foley's "fondness" for the pages and DID NOTHING!
SHAME ON YOU DENNY HASTERT!
Now I understand the true meaning of the President's Policiy of "leave no child's behind!"
Now I understand the true meaning of the President's Policiy of "leave no child's behind!"
POWER and POLITICS are more important than anything...even children. I'M SICKENED!
The emails which first came to light were fairly innocuous as far as I'm concerned. A little familiar, perhaps, but certainly nothing outrageous. The subsequent IMs, however are disgusting. What concerns me is finding who knew about these overtly sexual exchanges and when. If they were delibertly held back, anyone involved should immediately resign.
I'd like to know where the instant messages got into the public domain. Whether they have been purposefully held back by a democratic operative until a month before the election, or hidden by the republican house leadership, it is equally despicable. I wish to God that, for once there could be an investigation to acertain the facts for the sake of these young men and leave the attack politics OUT!
I believe that the Democrats knew about it and it was held until this time to effect the elections in Nov. Foleys name will still be on the ballot next month because it is too late to take it off. If you want to vote for the man that replaces Foley, you have to actually vote for Foley!
News programs have done undercover shows, pretending to be minors in order to trap men who want to have sex with minors. This is done thru a series of e-mail exchanges and these mena re caught, arrested and charged. Foley is no different from one of these other internet predators. The first emails to come out were benign, but the newest ones are disgusting. Asking a young boy how he masturbates and to measure the size of his penis is disgusting. E-mail sex is just like phone sex and I have no doubt what Foley was up to. Prosecute him!
Sure Foley was up to something and that may be confirmed by later emails that I haven't seen, but there was nothing anyone could have done about the emails in late 2005. And, get this: the age of consent in Wash' DC is 16 Years! A 16 year old is not a "minor"! Look for yourself, here's a copy of the law:
District of Columbia Official Code 2001 Edition Currentness
Division IV. Criminal Law and Procedure and Prisoners.
Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties. (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle I. Criminal Offenses.
Chapter 31. Sexual Performance Using Minors. (Refs & Annos)
§ 22-3101. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) "Knowingly" means having general knowledge of, or reason to know or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry, or both.
(2) "Minor" means any person under 16 years of age.
(3) "Performance" means any play, motion picture, photograph, electronic representation, dance, or any other visual presentation or exhibition.
(4) "Promote" means to procure, manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend, mail, deliver, transfer, transmute, publish or distribute, circulate, disseminate, present, exhibit, or advertise, or to offer or agree to do the same.
(5) "Sexual conduct" means:
(A) Actual or simulated sexual intercourse:
(i) Between the penis and the vulva, anus, or mouth;
(ii) Between the mouth and the vulva or anus; or
(iii) Between an artificial sexual organ or other object or instrument used in the manner of an artificial sexual organ and the anus or vulva;
(B) Masturbation;
(C) Sexual bestiality;
(D) Sadomasochistic sexual activity for the purpose of sexual stimulation; or
(E) Lewd exhibition of the genitals.
(6) "Sexual performance" means any performance or part thereof which includes sexual conduct by a person under 16 years of age.
Kills me how most of these comments and "information" come from Anonymous posters. What's with that?
Commenters have the choice to post anonymously. It is interesting that so many decided to write comments in this thread anonymously. I haven't a clue why?
He texted a 16yr.old page and
asked him if he was horny.
And to tell him the length of
his penis.
Do you think that a 51yr. old
man did anything improper????
Mark Foley appears to have a problem with his ability to act as a responsible adult if what he has been quoted as saying is true. Abused or not, gay or not, it's all irrelevant. The lack of self-discipline is appaling. Maybe he should join the USMC.
Hey Mark Foley!
Don't worry buddy! It will all blow over and be forgotten soon!
Gerry Studds D-Massachusetts (retired)
Hey Mark Foley,
Don't pay any attention to those mean spirited people heckling you. There is nothing wrong with your interest in young boys and it is none of anyones business.
Love,
Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts
Disregarding the disgusting IMs, Foley asking for the kid's photo alone is pretty creepy. The way in which he asked it was not professional or appropriate for a 16 year old boy to have with a former employer. I would have notified the government too: would your really want someone that far up getting away with that? At least this kid could tell when the line was crossed- the IM kid went through entire conversations filled with explicit sexual references before finally cottoning on.
yeah I can remember this mess, Foley was accused of sexual harassment, the worst thing in this case, was not a girl or a women, was a BOY! a men who fought agains the pedophilia, and end as a pederast.
This is very disturbing. Though the emails still prove nothing at face value. You cannot help but feel something fishy about it.
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