ABC News: No Prosecution Likely for Foley

[DeepModem Mom]

ABC Exclusive: No Prosecution Likely for Foley
December 08, 2006

According to Justice Department officials, it is unlikely that the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington will press forward on a prosecution in the Foley case.

According to several sources, prosecutors have had difficulty establishing probable cause of a crime. The barrier in getting past the probable cause threshold was the statute on transmitting obscene materials to minors. Under federal law, the age of minors receiving obscene materials is 16.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/12/abc_exclusive_n.html

[rodeodance]

1. I hear he left with his congressional benifits also --pension health etc.

[Ian David]

15. He also gets his congressional discount at Chuck E. Cheese. n/t

[FlaGranny]

2. Florida is investigating him too.

I haven't heard what they've come up with. I haven't been listening to much local news lately.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. So sexual harassment

and abuse of power are not at issue here?

It doesn't matter how old these pages were or are. Foley was in a position of power and he used that power to solicit sex.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Can they be criminal charges?

I'm pretty sure "abuse of power" can't be; sexual harassment is normally a matter for employment law. It might vary depending o nthe jurisdiction, I suppose.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. President Clinton

was impeached for 'abuse of power' for having sex with a subordinant and then trying to find her a job outside of the WH. I'm sure what Foley did at least reaches that level of wrongdoing.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Impeachment isn't a normal criminal process

so it has different standards (eg it's not 'beyond all reasonable doubt').

[Vinca]

5. This is amazing - only one level away from blaming the pages. nt

[davidinalameda]

6. disgusting

pure and simple

[MagickMuffin]

7. It seems as though everything turned out pretty much like I thought it would

WooHoo, it now appears that the congress-critters can do whatever they want.

You want to solicit sex from a minor... No big DEAL.... Go ahead.... Nothing will happen to you if you get caught.

You want to buy booze for underage kids... No problem... Go Right Ahead.... It should help to dull your conscience!

You want to harass children... By all means... Not anyone's concern... We'll look the other way, and help put out any fires. Hell we won't even tell the other members in congress, because they are not in our party...


These "lawmakers" and their special treatment of one another makes me :puke:
They think they have entitlement to whatever they can get away with and not suffer any consequences.

But if you or me tried to get away with the exact same crimes as they have committed and you will find yourself having to spend a lot of money having to defend yourself. I'm beginning to think only criminals run for office...

[struggle4progress]

9. The AGs office apparently doesn't prosecute Republicans

[daleo]

11. Didn't he give booze to underage kids?

One of his emails said he did.

[Eugene]

12. No surprise here. Foley helped to write the law.

He was careful to tread just inside the letter of the law.
He abused his power and everyone's trust, but he didn't
commit a federal crime.

Foley is a smart and methodical predator. It will be up
to the Florida authorities to catch him.

(edit for grammar)

[WindRavenX]

13. why the fuck not?

:grr:

[VegasWolf]

14. So it's perfectly legal to come on to young kids over the internet? Barf! nt

[Erika]

16. He did far worse that the predators on NBC

But he's a Republican elitist. Maybe that tells the story.

[w4rma]

17. It seems to me that the GOP appointee Attorney General is working as Foley's defense attorney. (nt)

[Erika]

18. Maybe NBC should be called in

Foley is GOP and escapes justice. Surprise, surprise.