Mark Foley, House hindering investigation into lurid communication with teenage boys

[Bluebear]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Florida's top police agency said Wednesday its investigation into former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's lurid Internet communications with teenage boys has been hindered because neither Foley nor the House will let investigators examine his congressional computers.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it hopes to conclude its investigation next week. Foley resigned from Congress on Sept. 29 after being confronted with the computer messages he sent to male teenage pages who had worked on Capitol Hill.

``We have requested to review federally owned computers that Mr. Foley used during his time as a representative, but the U.S. House of Representatives ... cited case law restrictions that prohibited them from releasing those computers,'' said Heather Smith, an FDLE spokeswoman.

Smith said that the House claims the computers are considered congressional work papers, and that only Foley can release them for review.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6869721,00.html

[blogslut]

1. Kick

The article posits that the Congress is skittish because that judge recently ruled against the search of William Jefferson's computers. I wonder if the "whole" congress is against this search or just certain (possibly suspect) persons like Denny Hastert. And could this pressure be why old Denny is resigning early?

[malaise]

5. Very interesting

K & R

[NanceGreggs]

2. Here to kick and rec - n/t

[annabanana]

3. I'm not sure I want Florida poking around in the House computers..

I don't understand why the House wouldn't release some specific stuff...(bad precedent?)

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. off to the greatest with you!

:kick: and 5th rec...

[bahrbearian]

6. Congress protects is own no matter what the crime.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Democrats have the majorities and chairmanships, can't they get this done?

[soothsayer]

8. Unfortunately, they prolly have stuff to hide as well. No one likes a precedent

that could get them into hot water later.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. They could it they WANTED to

[mopinko]

9. which was the whole point of setting up jefferson

eh?

[Canuckistanian]

10. Interesting observation

Yes, I remember a few GOP Congressmen were very upset about the Jefferson raid.

But not for very long.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. That shouldn't be a problem. Since the Dems favor investigations, not

impeachment, I'm SURE the leader of the House will be more than happy to cooperate with this investigation and demand that the computers be surrendered. So, who is the leader of the House?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. Remember when the FBI went in and raided Rep. Jefferson's

office. It was recently ruled by a Federal Judge as Constitutional. If his records could be taken, why couldn't Foley's? Is the House leadership waiting to see what the Supremes' ruling going to be (if Jefferson's case goes there) or are they just trying to protect one of their own (albeit former). Or, are they protecting their own asses in the future if they have compromising material on their computers?

[Hissyspit]

14. NOW they're worried about sepration of powers?

:crazy: