Rep. Tom Reynolds: Hastert knew of Foley's messages earlier this year.

[Imagevision]

<snip> House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) was notified early this year of inappropriate e-mails from former representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) to a 16-year-old page, a top GOP House member said yesterday -- contradicting the speaker's assertions that he learned of concerns about Foley only last week.

House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told The Washington Post on Friday that he had learned in late spring of inappropriate e-mails Foley sent to the page, a boy from Louisiana, and that he promptly told Hastert, who appeared to know already of the concerns. Hours later, Boehner contacted The Post to say he could not be sure he had spoken with Hastert.

This appears to be a cover up by House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093001265.html

[Erika]

1. and who can vote for these guys in good conscience?

The point is that a minor was violated, and you have the GOP all pointing fingers.

That's what is wrong with this country as you add in a very weak president who never has had a clue.

[David in Canada]

2. IF...

IF the GOP leaders knew about these chats AND they knew they were sexually explicit, wouldn't the covering up for Foley be considered a conspiracy charge?

COULD the member(s) involved in such a hush-hush coverup be subject to RICO charges? COULD they be subject to accessory after the fact? COULD they be held responsible, criminally and/or civally, for any possible molestations that occured once they were informed?

Of course, only those who knew of the explicit nature of the e-mails/IM's, if they were any would be. If ANYONE knew, it'd be Hastert and Boehner.

Questions... Questions... Questions...

[Imagevision]

3. Hastert coverup is reason to call for his resignation!!!!!

[pdxmom]

4. I don't usually take things over the top, but I can't help thinking that

if the head of the Repukes election committee knew about it, and Hastert and Boehner knew about it, there is no way in hell someone didn't let Rove know that a congressman from Jeb Bush's state was being "inappropriate" towards Congressional pages. No way they'd want that surprise to blindside the President's brother.

We'd never know it or prove it, but these people have turned conspiracy into an art form, and I just feel that this goes even further up the chain.

[orleans]

5. first, what is the age of consent in florida? is this kid considered

a minor or an adult with matters pertaining to sex?

if the kid is legal--then i would think you couldn't nail foley on soliciting, only on sexual harassment as it would be with any other employer

either way there could/should be some sort of charges brought against him. now, what can we charge the fat ass & bonner with?

[David in Canada]

7. FL Age of Consent

IIRC, the age of consent is 16 but ONLY if the other party is under 24 years of age.

Otherwise, it's 18.

Don't know if there are additional regulations or if the laws were changed.

FWIW...

[snowbear]

6. TPM sez: "Hastert may be guilty of criminal conspiracy"

"Top House Republicans knew for months about e-mail traffic between Representative Mark Foley and a former teenage page, but kept the matter secret and allowed Mr. Foley to remain head of a Congressional caucus on children’s issues, Republican lawmakers said Saturday."



"Since Hastert has already called for a criminal investigation, if he knew, and covered up, he is a potential accessory after the fact. Republican back benchers like Shays are already running for cover on this one, calling for any leader who knew to step down. For those looking at the odds that Hastert the Unspeakerable is about to be swept out of power, they just went up substantially. He may even lose his own seat... Already the joke is starting to circulate "So which Republican is going to be the next minority leader?"


http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/sep/30/hastert_may_be_guilty_of_criminal_conspiracy

[orleans]

8. isn't hastert under investigation anyway for getting funds for a highway

near property he owns? i thought i heard something about that and this asshole.