At least one Republican Congressman -- Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) -- knew about Foley's racey IMs to under-age pages in 2000!
Talk about the story that won't quit. This explosive story is on the front page of today's Washington Post:
The revelation pushes back by at least five years the date when a member of Congress has acknowledged learning of Foley's behavior with former pages. A timeline issued by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) suggested that the first lawmakers to know, Rep. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.), the chairman of the House Page Board, and Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), became aware of "over-friendly" e-mails only last fall. It also expands the universe of players in the drama beyond members, either in leadership or on the page board.
A source with direct knowledge of Kolbe's involvement said the messages shared with Kolbe were sexually explicit, and he read the contents to The Washington Post under the condition that they not be reprinted. But Cline denied the source's characterization, saying only that the messages had made the former page feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, she said, "corrective action" was taken. Cline said she has not yet determined whether that action went beyond Kolbe's confrontation with Foley. . .
Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in Congress, is retiring at the end of the year.
On a related note, according to the CQ Election Forecast, the GOP is now in danger of losing control of both chambers of Congress. Forget merely winning Congress back, now I'm dreaming of a landslide - as we wait for the rest of the Foleygate scandal to reveal itself.
Mark Foley Republicans Hastert Politics Pedophile Email Sex Scandal Foleygate News Foley
