National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) issued a statement Saturday in which he said that he had informed Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) of allegations of improper contacts between then-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and at least one former male page, contradicting earlier statements from Hastert.
GOP sources said Reynolds told Hastert earlier in 2006, shortly after the February GOP leadership elections. Hastert's response to Reynolds' warning remains unclear.
Hastert's staff insisted Friday night that he was not told of the Foley allegations and are scrambling to respond to Reynolds' statement.
Following is the text of that statement.
"Rodney Alexander brought to my attention the existence of e-mails between Mark Foley and a former page of Mr. [Rodney Alexander's [R-La.]. Despite the fact that I had not seen the e-mails in question, and Mr. Alexander told me that the parents didn't want the matter pursued, I told the Speaker of the conversation Mr. Alexander had with me.
"Mr. Alexander has also said he took the matter to the Clerk of the House. An investigation was then conducted by the Clerk and [illinois GOP Rep.] John Shimkus on behalf of the House Page Board.
"Mark Foley betrayed the integrity of this institution as well as the trust of his colleagues and constituents. There is no excuse, and he needs to be held accountable."
So the repulican leadership knew of the problem and then tried to cover it up...nice how the republicans spout this family values, protect our children propaganda, yet they look the other way when one of their own starts diddling kids //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif
//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif then //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/hilarious.gif.02a037aad04aa96f19982b298a3d70a8.gif
whats the real issue? Republican leadership in the house covering up for pedos who prey on under aged congressional pages, while attempting to take the moral high by being pro-family??
whats the real issue? Republican leadership in the house covering up for pedos who prey on under aged congressional pages, while attempting to take the moral high by being pro-family??
you're right, I didn't mean to come off as though I was dismissing this as bs because it isn't. i just have that feeling that this will get a lot more airtime than lets say, security and war issues in the coming weeks because bad news about one is better than bad news about a (relatively) majority standpoint on other issues.
that being said, if this helps get the republican majority out i'm all for it
ERIE, Pa. — A northwestern Pennsylvania woman accused of using her baby to batter her child's father said she didn't realize what she was doing until it was too late.
Chyrotia Graham, 27, of Erie, told police she had been drinking when an argument with the child's father turned violent early Sunday morning, according to an affidavit filed to support Graham's arrest.
Graham said she "snapped" and began grabbing things and throwing them at Deangelo Troop, 20, not realizing she had picked up her 4-week-old son, Jarron Troop, telling police she held the child by his legs and swung him at his father. Police had said they believed the woman held the baby by the midsection when she hit the man.
Graham was being held in the Erie County Jail on Monday on $75,000 bond. She faces charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault.
Jarron, who was born Sept. 11, suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain after the incident. The infant's head hit Deangelo, who had also fathered one of Graham's other four children.
Deangelo told the Erie Times-News that Graham never meant to hurt their child.
"People are trying to make a big deal about it, but she did not do it on purpose. ... It was just a mistake," he said.
Defense attorney Alison Scarpitti, who was assigned by the Erie County Public Defender's Office to represent Graham, said Monday she could not comment because she had not met with Graham.
Police said Troop punched Graham in the eye after she put the baby down, and police photos later showed her eye blackened and swollen shut.
Authorities said there was no indication that Troop had hit his son but that they were reviewing the case to see if any charges might be warranted.
"I don't anticipate any at this time," Erie police Capt. Frank Kwitowski said Monday.
Officials at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh declined to release information about the baby early Tuesday. He was flown to the hospital by helicopter after the incident.
Authorities removed Graham's other children from the home. The Erie County Office of Children and Youth granted temporary custody to their maternal grandparents, Gloria Graham and Cornell Petty of Erie.
