Amazing that when it was Jefferson, a Democrat, under investigaton the FBI walked in and seized his office, but when its Foley, a Republican, They feel its only necessary to gain his assurances thay he will not destroy evidence.

This is just a small example of the hypocricy surrounding the Republican party.History shows that the Republican party is quick to point fingers,pass judgement, and use "gay issues" as a political platform to win elections but are willing to look the other way, when it comes to the people they should be judgeing and prosecuting. All guilty parties who had knowledge of the events, should held accountable, as no American citizen is abouve or beyond the laws that govern this country.

How long does it take the FBI to read the messages?? Is there that many??

This is so rediculous. They have to read what they have before seizing his computers?? You mean there is only ONE guy on the case so he can't do more than one thing at a time??

This IM'ing he did was disgusting and certainly was a violation of the TOS of his ISP.

Yes, interesting that the computer wasn't seized...also interesting that the press was contacted first, not law enforcement..thereby missing an opportunity to set up a decoy and see if he would meet personally with the page for sex. You have to remember, this is virtual sex, not real, masturbation (assuming) by both parties maybe present, but then again, doesnt that usually have fantasy involved....and a 16 yr old page isnt no child....the real crime is all our congress and senate has been doing us for years, young and old alike, and who is getting emotional about that...Foley is stupid, but the public is stupider.

"Mark has absolutely agreed on his own and with our counsel not to do anything with any computer..."
OK wait - isn't this the same guy who agreed to leave the pages alone???

Wow! Unfortunately it's totally believeable. Now these guys are all trying to stonewall the issue. While we all understand that politics is sleezy, we don't expect it to extend to our children. Since there is stonewalling going on you can bet that there are others who have something to hide. I don't think we've seen the end of the thread here. There will be others implicated. Not just a cover up but others who have done the same thing. It's not about being gay. It's about taking advantage of children and the abuse of power. Let's see how this all unfolds and hope that the media doesn't get blamed again. Let's punish the offenders not the media (messengers).

The FBI are well aware the predisposition of pedophiles to use the computer to retain information on children. One of their leading specialists, Mr. Gado wrote a book on the very first act is to seize the computer for evidence, not the last act, the first act:
CSA, as in most cases the child is incapable of objecting due to age and confusion.
Gado’s knowledge is backed by the FBI’s behavior science unit, who have collected data over years of pedophiles incarcerated and define the two subcategories as accurate, even going further as to state the situational deviant is responsible for 90% of prosecutions."For many of these people, fantasy consumes their lives," observes[FBI agent] Wright. "They follow their own scripts."(Toufexiz,Time1991)

It is against every procedure put out by the FBI in dealing with suspected pedaphiles. It is the last thing they choose to do in real cases.

This is confirmed by Mr. Gado's documentation of FBI procedure and the Time Article.

This will all go by the wayside by election day. Just as Delay, Abramoff, Bennett, Newt, and all the other fingerpointers did and will. When will the american SHEEP wake up and throw them all out of office? Oh yeah, it's the other guys, not mine. Jeez!!!!!!!
K.Bowser
Fed up!!!!

Unbelievable they didn't seize Foley's computers with no notice first thing.

This is just another example of the culture of corruption that has spread across the GOP.

President Bush says "You can't trust Democrats in Congress" and I say "You can't trust Republicans with our kids". This is morally reprehensible and ethically wrong. Hastert and others should be ashamed.

Human nature is bipartisan. The fact that Foley is a Republican didn't make him do what he did - he would have done the same thing if he were a democrat. Don't be ignorant and blame one political party for something both parties are capable of: protecting their own (even if by morally questionable means.)

I am getting sick and tired of the lack of accepting personal responsibility when that person is exposed. It seems the first thing they do is get admitted to a treatment facility and blame it on some terrible past experience. I don't care what political party he's affliated with, what sexual orientation he is, or what religion he belongs to. It's time to stop the blame game. As the saying goes-you made you bed, now sleep in it!

Not only has the FBI not yet confiscated Foley's computer, they didn't even start their investigation until several days after Foley was exposed (sorry, not pun intended!).

Clearly the FBI is giving him every opportunity to destroy evidence. Gotta make you wonder who's behind the curtain.

The FBI should seize Folly's computer ASAP.

It's hard to imagine that the supects computer, and all of his potential abbetors, such as Speaker Hastert's computer, have not already been seized also. Even if nothing is ultimally found, they should automatically be seized, for the sake of un-tainted evidence.

We are talking about CHILDREN, this is not a REP or Dem issue, what are wrong with the Republican politicians not to demand Hasert to resign until full investigation. And any politican involved with knowlege not reporting, get them out with no retirement benefits. Bush defended Hasert. Have to think the top knew also. It is all power. American families will not buy this, we want our children protected. Glad this came out, religion based politicans need to practice what they preach, JESUS love children yellow, black, and white they were precious in his sight.

I can't believe Republicans are circling the wagons around Hastert, I am ashamed that the Republican leadership would do this. It tells me loud and clear that it is all about power with them. Power corrupts. Time to change the gaurd.

Amazing how all the Democrats come out of the woodwork, and are outraged with the GOP and their handling of the Mark Foley situation. If the Democrats are so worried about the well being of 16 yr old pages, why are those disgusting text messages just coming to light now, instead of 2003 when they happened. Hey Democrats, ask yourself, "What liberal group had access to these text messages and sent them to ABC News, a month before elections, just for a political smear campaign instead of protecting future pages"? Maybe the Democrats are so desperate for White House and Congressional power, that the safety of teenage boys and girls isn't that important. Just a thought.

Absolutely amazing that the FBI is so slow in seizing possible evidence!!!

Interesting that there hasn`t been any news report that his computer has been confiscated by the FBI as of yet!

Also, why is Matt Drudge now claiming it was the kid`s fault, they were somehow messing with the mind of an adult--too strange.

Equally strange is CNN`s interview with a female page. CNN asked her if she had ever been warned about Foley. Someone should tell CNN that he was after the boys not the girls!