Taking the GOP CYA Train:Page Alumni website now has a statement

[cal04]

Well, this is odd — why does the Page Alumni website now have a disclaimer statement that reads: "Because of the current situation. I am shutting down the board until I can provide a proper statement about my part in what has been going on. I appreciate your patience." What is THAT about? (H/T to Meta for the find.)(http://www.pagealumni.us/boards/)

The Republican Leadership in the House is trying to pull a fast one on the public and the press. But I'm not buying. And neither is Glenn:

…The letter sent by Hastert to the DOJ yesterday does not ask for an investigation into the issue at the heart of this scandal — namely, whether GOP House leaders failed to take action against Foley despite having ample reason to suspect strongly, if not fully know about, Foley's predatory behavior with underage pages. To the contrary, Hastert's letter has two overriding and clear purposes: (1) to exclude this wrongdoing engaged in by Hastert and the GOP House leadership from the DOJ investigation; and (2) to demand instead a criminal investigation into the parties responsible for the disclosure of the Foley story generally and the wrongdoing of Hastert and company specifically.

For that reason, Hastert's letter is plainly designed to bolster the cover-up, to intimidate those who have revealed information about this scandal, and to deter those who might come forward with more information. The letter worsens the scandal because it itself is corrupt….

Worse, the Boehner machinations in the House, flipping Nancy Pelosi's direct call for a full and immediate investigation into a possible maybe investigation:


http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/10/02/taking-the-gop-cya-train/


Hastert's letter to the DOJ advances the cover-up and worsens the scandal
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/10/hasterts-letter-to-doj-advances-cover.html

[autorank]

1. KR. In this case it's both the CRIME and the COVER UP.

Denny is going to wish he never left Peoria after this one. Scandals like this one brought the pervasive influence of the church to an end in Ireland and created a huge popular movement in Belgium.

The behavior and enabling aspects of it are clearly appropriate targets of public scrutiny and there will be massive amounts of that.

Excellent post.

[NVMojo]

2. K&R!!!

[Janice325]

3. k&r

This is getting so hard to keep track of all the spin and coverups.
Fucking assholes!!!

[JimDandy]

4. What are the laws in DC re requirement to report abuse to police?

"While excluding himself from the investigation, Hastert wants it known that anyone who had knowledge of Foley's IM's -- in the media, watchdog groups, or even other pages and their families -- will be subject to this DOJ investigation if they failed to come forward earlier."

Hastert was an employer. Aren't teachers, employers, and others in a position of authority REQUIRED to report this kind of child abuse? The "media, watchdog groups, or even other pages and their families" aren't REQUIRED to.

[theDash]

5. Matthew Loraditch

is who runs the alumni site and is certainly to be questioned in any kind of legal proceeding since he apparently knew of Foley's contact with other pages and the nature of his e-mails:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001648.php

[Straight Shooter]

6. Exactly. He is probably following legal advice and not a CYA policy.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[JimDandy]

8. Thanks. Welcome to DU! n/t

[JimDandy]

7. Foley sponsored the 2005 Sex Offender Registration legislation.

Foley might make it on this list soon!

Orrin Hatch (R-UT), is also a member of the Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children. How much did Orrin Hatch know about Foley's pedophilic behavior? Hatch is a big-time promoter of Utah State child protection laws. Did Hatch violate any legal, ethical, or moral "standards for notifying the public about these predators."

If Hatch could be brought down...

Media Advisory
May 17, 2005

SENATOR HATCH AND REPRESENTATIVE FOLEY ANNOUNCE OVERHAUL OF SEX OFFENDER LAW WITH VICTIM PARENTS AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHIDREN

WASHINGTON, DC - On Wednesday May 18, Representative Mark Foley (R-FL), Co-Chairman of the Missing & Exploited Children’s Caucus, and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Member of the Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children, will hold a press conference announcing the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act of 2005. This new legislation will increase and tighten tracking of sex offenders and provide standards for notifying the public about these predators.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 18 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Cannon Terrace, Cannon House Office Building, Corner of
New Jersey Avenue and Independence Avenue, Washington, DC.
(In case of inclement weather, event will take place in Cannon House Bldg. Rm. 122)


WHO: Representative Mark Foley, Co-Chair, Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
Senator Orrin Hatch, Member, Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children
Senator Joseph Biden, Member, Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children
Representative Bud Cramer Co-Chair, Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
John Walsh, Father of Adam Walsh; Host, “America’s Most Wanted”;
Co-Founder, NCMEC
Ernie Allen, President and CEO, NCMEC
Robbie Callaway, Senior Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Patty Wetterling, Mother of Jacob Wetterling
Ed Smart, Father of Elizabeth Smart
Linda Walker, Mother of Dru Sjodin

http://www.cybertipline.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2002

[JimDandy]

9. Terms of Service for Posters on the PageAlumni Board

Could this agreement be used against the pages in the DOJ investigation Hastert called for in his letter?

Terms of Service

Matthew G. Loraditch doing business as The House Page Alumni Association (referred to as “The House Page Alumni Association” " PAGEALUMNI.US™" ,"we," "us," or "our" herein) maintains this site (the "PAGEALUMNI.US™ site") for your (the “User’s”) use, information and convenience. You are encouraged to use and enjoy the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site, and with your use of the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site you agree to these Terms of Service and Legal Notices set forth below and the disclaimers and terms and conditions stated on the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site ("Terms of Service").


You may only download material displayed on the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site for non-commercial, personal use provided you also retain all copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices contained in the material, do not modify or alter the material and do not copy or post the material on any network computer or broadcast the material in any media. It is strictly prohibited to modify, transmit, distribute, reuse, repost, "frame" or use the content of the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site including the text, images, audio or video for public or commercial purposes without written permission from The House Page Alumni Association.
more...

http://www.pagealumni.us/tos.htm

[JimDandy]

10. One of the URLs

http://www.dcpages.org

brings up a login. All of the other URLs point to the page with the disclaimer statement.

The main Web site address for the PAGEALUMNI.US™ site is http://www.pagealumni.us. The site is also accessible via http://www.pagealumni.com, http://www.pagealumni.net, http://www.pagealumni.org, http://www.congressionalpage.org, http://www.congressionalpage.com, http://www.congressionalpage.net, http://www.congressionalpage.info, http://www.congressionalpage.us, and http://www.dcpages.org. The mailing address for The House Page Alumni Association is 1815 Midsummer Lane, Jarrettsville, MD 21084

http://www.pagealumni.us/tos.htm

[theDash]

11. why didn't he blow the whistle a long time ago?

If not him, how about the supervisor who warned him and other pages about Foley?

BTW, I found Matthew's IM screen name - but doubt he will accept my contact request :)

[JimDandy]

12. That's the million dollar question.

Matthew's IM screen name? Share, share!!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

13. k&r

[theDash]

14. believe it or not

He did accept my IM add buddy request, and chatted briefly.

I didn't pry, just said hey, you're famous now. He said, "yeah, something like that".

Basically said he had to disconnect his phone because media and everyone else is harassing him constantly. Going out of town to get away for a few days.