Well, well, well. It appears the Republicans actually can make the Foley controversy worse. As if it wasn’t bad enough that John Boehner knew about Foley’s track record of sexual harassment of his underage pages, now it turns out that Speaker Denny Hastert lied about what he knew and when he knew it. Roll Call reports that Thomas Reynolds (R-NY), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Hastert about Foley’s predatory actions in late winter or early spring of this year:
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.
I cannot tell CQ readers how disgusted I am with Speaker Hastert. Reynolds is no fringe nutcase; he’s the man Hastert trusted to run the midterm re-elections of the Republican caucus. He has no reason to lie, but Hastert apparently did. This also calls into question Boehner’s earlier reversal, when he denied saying that he informed Hastert after Hastert denied knowing of Foley’s activities.
Hastert should have been a man from the beginning and admit that he knew about Foley. Now he has destroyed any credibility left in his Speakership, and he has only compounded the embarrassment for the GOP caucus. Foley’s actions reflect on Foley alone, but thanks to Hastert and perhaps Boehner, the aftermath will reflect on all Republicans in the House.
Republicans have to act swiftly to remove the stench of Foleygate from the party. They need to demand the resignation of Hastert as Speaker, as well as Boehner as Majority Leader if he lied to protect Hastert. Allowing Foley off the hook was a mistake in judgment, but this is a betrayal of those who trusted Hastert to lead the House with dignity, honesty, and integrity.
CLARIFICATION: When I say resign, I mean from their leadership positions. Neither committed a crime, and their constituents should judge whether they should continue to represent them.
UPDATE: CQ readers seem to have misunderstood what this post concerns. Here’s what Hastert’s office was saying yesterday:
The resignation rocked the Capitol, and especially Foley’s GOP colleagues, as lawmakers were rushing to adjourn for at least six weeks. House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told The Washington Post last night that he had learned this spring of inappropriate “contact” between Foley and a 16-year-old page. Boehner said he then told House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). Boehner later contacted The Post and said he could not remember whether he talked to Hastert.
It was not immediately clear what actions Hastert took. His spokesman had said earlier that the speaker did not know of the sexually charged online exchanges between Foley and the boy.
Today, Reynolds’ statement demolishes Hastert’s denial. Hastert lied about his knowledge of the case. It doesn’t make any difference if Hastert got Foley to resign, or whether some news outlets sat on the story. He bald-faced lied, and he apparently got Boehner to retract his statement that Boehner had informed him of Foley’s inappropriate behavior in the spring. Hastert tried to cover his own butt by hiding the truth, and it appears Boehner tried to help him do it.
Also, this isn’t a “dirty trick”. The timing might have been manipulated, but a dirty trick involves false allegations. No one framed Foley — he did this to himself.
UPDATE II: Another article from yesterday that reflects that Hastert’s office denied knowing anything of the Foley allegations. Ron Bonjean, Hastert’s spokesman, made it clear that Hastert knew nothing of the earlier allegations, and bear in mind that this was when people were asking about how the Republicans could have failed to inform the Page Board of the allegations.
UPDATE III: One last update, and then I’m moving on. I am not so much angry about the decision made by GOP leadership that the evidence and the demands of the parents to drop the issue left them little to do about Foley other than chastise him. I think they should have at least informed the Page Board, since that is the procedure, but that’s a simple error in judgment. I’m not claiming that Hastert knew about the IMs months ago, because apparently no one but a few Democratic operatives knew about that until last week.
What makes me angry and disappointed is the denial by Hastert that he knew anything about Foley’s issues on Friday. Recall that Majority Leader John Boehner had already told the press that he told Hastert about the earlier e-mails months ago, and after Hastert’s statement, Boehner had to retract that. Only after Reynolds released his statement did Hastert acknowledge that he knew about Foley’s earlier issues. It’s the dishonesty and the butt-covering that I find unacceptable in a House Speaker, who is two heartbeats away from the Presidency.
It’s time for Speaker Hastert to step down
Denny Hastert’s office denied yesterday that the House Speaker had any knowledge of [Mark Foley’s inappropriate — and revolting — behavior](http://theshapeofdays.com/2006/09/mark_foley_resigns_over_explic.html), but [NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds said t…
Congressman Mark ‘Page Boy’ Foley Resigns
I thought twice (actually, four times) about blogging this, but what the hey?
I try to avoid salacious stuff, but it’s Friday, so…whatever.
Last night I read that Republican Congressman Mark Foley [6:07 p.m.: He took down his web site.]…
More Foley-gate News
Captain Ed notes that, in the light of the despicable actions of Florida Rep. Mark Foley, comes news of more despicable actions. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert has now lied as to what he knew and when he knew
More Foley-gate News
Captain Ed notes that, in the light of the despicable actions of Florida Rep. Mark Foley, comes news of more despicable actions. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert has now lied as to what he knew and when he knew
It’s time for Speaker Hastert to step down
Denny Hastert’s office denied yesterday that the House Speaker had any knowledge of [Mark Foley’s inappropriate — and revolting — behavior](http://theshapeofdays.com/2006/09/mark_foley_resigns_over_explic.html), but [NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds said t…
More Foley-gate News
Captain Ed notes that, in the light of the despicable actions of Florida Rep. Mark Foley, comes news of more despicable actions. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert has now lied as to what he knew and when he knew
It’s time for Speaker Hastert to step down
Denny Hastert’s office denied yesterday that the House Speaker had any knowledge of [Mark Foley’s inappropriate — and revolting — behavior](http://theshapeofdays.com/2006/09/mark_foley_resigns_over_explic.html), but [NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds said t…
Bill’s Bites — 2006.09.30
The webmaster’s blog-within-a-blog. Continuously updated, newest items at the top. Please click here to learn more about The Phoenix Project, then click here to see a selection of Old War Dogs merchandise. All sales proceeds go to support The Phoenix
Bill’s Bites — 2006.09.30
The webmaster’s blog-within-a-blog. Continuously updated, newest items at the top. Please click here to learn more about The Phoenix Project, then click here to see a selection of Old War Dogs merchandise. All sales proceeds go to support The Phoenix
It’s time for Speaker Hastert to step down
Denny Hastert’s office denied yesterday that the House Speaker had any knowledge of [Mark Foley’s inappropriate — and revolting — behavior](http://theshapeofdays.com/2006/09/mark_foley_resigns_over_explic.html), but [NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds said t…
Pederasty and Cover Ups
What will not be said is that the increased acceptance of homosexuality comes at a price. It is taboo even to intimate that there is sometimes a connection between the homosexual orientation of some and the abuse of boys and young men. (Not that hete…
The Latest Democratic Hitjob
Was Foley a perv? Most definately so. But the speed with which the Democrats came out swinging at the Republican leadership, accusing them of knowing about the sexually explicit emails long ago, gave me pause. Not because I believed them, but becaus…
Foley: It gets worse
OK, this exchange between “Maf54” and the teenager went on for about 50 minutes, and includes such alleged Foley comments as: Maf54 (7:37:27 PM): how my favorite young stud doing …
Dem hypocrisy (gasp!) in Mark Foley case.
Apparently, Denny Hastert knew a year ago that Foley was a SICK DEGENERATE PEDO AND COVERED IT UP LIKE A CATHOLIC BISHOP!! Or, no,…
Has the Foley Scandal Gotten Worse?
What did they know, and when did they know it? Those are the questions being asked about GOP House leaders about what they knew about accusations about improper emails and instant messages regarding Rep. Mark Foley’s conduct towards Congressional pag…
Foleygate: Some Quick Thoughts
It’s not looking too good right now for Republicans, to tell you the truth. Foley has handed Democrats an issue to beat Republicans over the head with heading into the mid-term elections and, to a certain extent, so did the House leadership.
I’ve spen
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership positions. But… but… all the did was cover up for a pedophile! Hastert Knew While Foley Flew,I cannot tell CQ readers how disgusted I am with Speaker…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership positions. But… but… all the did was cover up for a pedophile! Hastert Knew While Foley Flew,I cannot tell CQ readers how disgusted I am with Speaker…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
In Defense of Foley
The guy doesn’t seem to have many defenders so here goes.
More Foley-gate News
Captain Ed notes that, in the light of the despicable actions of Florida Rep. Mark Foley, comes news of more despicable actions. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert has now lied as to what he knew and when he knew
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
RW Blogger Wants Republican Congressional Leadership to Resign – Others Defend
Update note – Follow the updates I’m posting, and watch how the right turns this into a full-fledged “October Surprise” plot, entirely the Democrats’ fault. This RW blogger wants the Republican Congressional leadership to resign from their leadership p…
Mr. Speaker, You Must Resign
This Foleygate story is shifting so quickly, I don’t know where to begin. But I’ll take a stab at it.
Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, you must resign.
Here’s the backstory:
The deviant and reckless conduc…
Mark Foley Scandal Hurts Democrats
Although some claim Foley’s overeager mentoring of male Congressional pages will be damaging to Republicans, I think this incident demonstrates why turning Congress over to the Democrats would be such a disaster.