I think you owe him an apology.

If a web page is available to the public than won't search engines like Google often find it?

Isn't that interesting that Fox (Faux) News has captioned Foley as a democrat more than once?

Wishful thinking or honest mistake?

You be the judge.

It is very respectable for your organization to print a statement like admiting this mistake, especially since this is a highly sensitive situation.

I would also hope that your would make every attempt to contact the 'Teen' as well about the mistake so that they may take any necessary action to protect themselves (delete the screen name, user account, etc.) from having his identity revealed to the public and possibly become a target for other predators.

Unfortunately, once something appears on the net, the damage is done.

Sincerely,

Dr. Allenium

Hey Brian
Wht dont you investigate the story about the pages prank that went awry?

Where was all the hue and cry from the radical right when ABC televised the 9-11 docudrama last mmonth?

The big picture is being missed: The fact that a powerful congressmen was preying on young pages, and the majority was more concerned about preserving its majority rather than protecting under their charge. The Democrats should be wary as well, as the old quote "hose who live in glass houses" quickly comes to mind...

probably for the same reason they won't investigate the GOP's next claim that it was Russia, Islamic fundies or Martians who set Foley up.

But Shimkus and Hastert didn't take the logical next steps. The communications that Shimkus and Hastert knew about were serious enough to ask Foley to cease contact with the former page. But the Republicans didn't pursue the matter any further and didn't inform the Democratic member of the House Page Board about the matter. That lack of action is indefensible.

Brian-

This is a very curious news scoop by ABC in a number of ways, not the least of which is the original e-mails that ABC apparently used as the basis for your stories. If, as the Drudge site reveals, the source of the emails was a mysterious blogger website begun in July that may or may not have correct dates on its posts, and may actually have just copied posts from another source and pasted them to this site, and the owner of the site refuses to identify himself(herself?), then why would a responsible news organization like ABC even touch such a story without some real subtantiation of this? What motivated you to go to Foley in the first place? This sounds like totally unreliable source information to break a story. Did you make a major goof when you confronted Foley, and his response was that the email responses "probably" were from him, only now to discover that perhaps the original basis for your story was a prank by non-victimized males? Why hasn't ABC followed up on this part of the story or printed an explanation to the public and to the Congress?

Of course Foley was right to resign and his actions stand condemned, but why hasn't ABC or any other news group recognized the proper, responsible act that Foley did make in resigning, and reveal that in most past Congressional scandals such as this, the Congressmen did not own up fully to their actions, saw no need to resign, and mostly got comparatively gentle reprimands from the Congress. And these past events involved the actual and repeated acts, some indeed with underage pages, not just written emails. No one has come forward on Foley with any more than emails thus far.

And finally, why does ABC continue to highlight the opinions of those who wish to bring down Hastert, who is being convicted by some without any real substance of fact to do so. But if we, the public, want to get at the facts of what Hastert's 'crime' was or was not, we have to read far down in the story lines that are being written, or we have to go to other sources. The headlines and picture captions from most of the news agencies are very misleading as to the truth about Hastert. I think Americans should want to know if that is intentional!

Sincerely-

Joe Saba

I for one am SO SICK OF partisan political blame-gaming.

I do not care if this was a Martian Plot to eradicate Republicans. Now Hannity is blaming Bill Clinton, go figure...

Thank you ABC News for bringing it forward and DO NOT LET UP.

Dennis Hastert is the clueless face of 21st Century American power. Are these bad men? No more than the Politburo before them. The mainstream media are setting us up for a fall, if you think the Drudges of the world, gorging at the Neocon trough,will voluntarily surrender control.

It is time for people to come together as Americans and demand that the corruption in our government be exposed! For those of you still drinking the Kool-Aid, wake up before our country is stolen by people who don't care about anything except power and money. Thank you ABC for reporting the facts, as you should. I almost dare to believe that the MSM is not completely dead of objective journalism.

To Joe Saba,

In those past cases, the Democratic leadership did not cover up information and took action as soon as they discovered it... not three years later!!!!

That is the story here, no matter how the GOP tries to bring up the past incidences.

The GOP strategy will backfire as soon as more people are made aware of this fact!!!

His "crime" though maybe not a real crime was that his party the GOP is responsible for oversight and consistently has failed to get the GOP committees to perform their duties on many issues.

Can someone tell me what the issues of this election are? Drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll have been around for longer then some of you have been alive.

Is Brian Ross the Next Dan Rather?

Hey republican party faithful, welcome to the USS Swiftboat. I'd offer assistance, but like your "cut and run" VP Cheney during the Vietnam War, I have other priorities.

Thanks for Bringing this to our attention ABC. Many of the "Carter Conservatives", "Republican Moderates" and the "Freestyle Evangelicals" who have been worn down by the current Administrations corruption and lack of ANY values except getting rich from thier corrupt behavior have finally been pushed over the edge.

I and others like me have been aligned with the Republican party have now grown tired. I feel like they punch me in the gut about once a week. We are tired of being beat on by our own partys blatent corruption and lies.

Most of the people in our group are just going to vote out as many Republican Incumbants as we can. It will be our statement that they failed us time and time again.

Everytime Drudge opens his mouth, a couple more hundred people abandon the Republican Party. I am thinking that Drudge must be a secret agent of the Democrats or Independents, becuase he encouraging people to RUN from the Republican party FAST. I should qualify this statement by clearly pointing out that most Republicans listen to him becuase he is nuts, not credible. It used to be somewhat funny, now he is just creepy.

Mo one has shown evidence that the democrats had the information brought out at election time!! Who's to say the Republicans didn't release the information to blame the Dems....and to get free TV time?? True to the Republicans way......blame everyone accept their selve's....Dems....Pages....other Repulicans...... Come on America, lets get this Country back in the right direction!!!

Can anyone say "October Surprise"? ABC will take a big hit on this one. Those who pay attention know where ABC stands. Let's see. Buck up Clinton after he did far worse (no, I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about LYING TO A GRAND JURY) and villify the entire Republican party for the actions of a lowly member of Congress. Heh, heh, heh. The times, they are achangin'.

Thank you ABC with your help and your honest reporting we might get this country back on track. They all complained about Clinton's "set up" indescretion. His was a relationship between two consenting ADULTS. They couldn't let it rest. Clinton has not stopped doing GOOD for the country since he left the office. Now that the republican's have been caught doing truly unmoral things to children while in office. They can't handle the heat. They CAN do things all along the years like let the price of fuel go up till right before major elections thinking that people will forget. In TN they even cut the health care for the poor and terminally ill without even allowing them to speak to the governor in person. Many died. Now he is discussing a possible healthcare solution.(right before the election) Well if we will just realize these are ploys to keep them in the office and realize the reality of what has happened all along instead of a few month before the elections. Your timing is impeccable and you are the most wonderful and honest news station I have found. I truly hope to see all the ones who had any knowledge of the Foley actions be seriously fined and taken from public office. Nicer yet if they were required to register on the sexual offenders registry. If they can cover up a scandel with our youth in their care what else are they doing and covering up. I am sure we have some good idea. Keep up the good work!

It's too bad that the good Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is no longer with us. I would love to hear what he would have to say about this matter. In his absence, allow me to quote from " Generation Of Swine"..

" Not much has changed with these powermongers since Caligua's time.Sex and power have a long history of feeding on each other.In 18th century England, the king and half his ministers were involved in a whole network of strange and violent sex clubs, whiiping parlors,and half secret clubs that embraced everything from Satanism and human sacrifice to flagrant white slavery and public beastiality....These peoplw didn't fool around.They raised the orgy to an art form unknown since Caligua or even the fiendish mongol hordes of Genghis Khan..."

RES IPSA LOQUITOR

What matters is good investigative journalism -which is exactly what appears to be lacking in Ross' report. (2) versions of redacted e-mails -/phony web sites/ -underage victimized page, who turns out to be of legal age at the time and a self serving self avowed insensative prankster based on comments on his "MySpace" profile. Come on! Who can believe this excrement anymore? Can we say SET-UP or is it just SLOPPY Journalism Investigative reports should have standards and not just be 'hit' pieces.

I continue to be amazed! We are not stupid people and can see through the smoke. We have lived through the past ten years and remember things that happened. Many of us were VICTIMS of those missteps taken during the past ten years. This 'investigation' will end up hurting Brian Ross and ABC and I truly hope that the young man whose name was revealed 'accidently' sues the pants off of both. How much is the DNC paying you Brian?

Thanking Matt Drudge?

Isn't that a bit like kissing Hitler on the mouth?

Hey, I have a good idea. Can I start my own "news" website, interview the press people for top Republican lawmakers, and based on their comments develop a story about how Buster-the-dog was the leaker of the Foley scandal because he got p.o.'d at the President for assuming that he agreed with his Iraq policy...

...then after I post my "article" can I come over here on your blog and chew you guys out for not reporting the Truth?

The comments here are absurd. Do any of you really think this is a "dirty trick", prior to the election? Do the republicans, who are now so busy pointing their fingers at eachother, that they cannot even keep their stories straight, really think that the American people are going to fall for this sob story that THEY are the victims?
Fact: Atleast one underage boy was approached by a pedophile, who happens to be a United States Congressperson.
Fact: At some point this was brought to the attention of the Republican Congressional leadership ,who for reasons known only to themselves, chose to ignore this.
Fact: Contrary to what the Republican Party seems to contend, Bill Clinton is NOT responsible for each and every thing that THEY have done wrong in the past 6 years.
As loudly as we cried that ABC's 9-11 movie was partisan and unfair, people of conscience will now praise the reporting of Brian Ross and ABC and thank them for helping get a dangerous pedophile out of the highest halls of government.
It seems to me that it is time for the Republican party to stand up and for once, just once accept responsibilty, apologize and take steps to prevent anything like this from happening again and ditch their standard playbook of " it's a Dems fault", no one is buying into that anymore.

Joe Sabo aka Matt drudge said earlier:
>The headlines and picture captions from most of the news agencies are very misleading as to the truth about Hastert. I think Americans should want to know if that is intentional!>

No, Mr Sabo, Hastert is the decider in the Congress, and he decided to cover-up. This cover-up, while now mostly rumored and surmised,will be shortly proven. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, and she is just warming up, son. No matter how outraged you are about ABC News, they will be vindicated, I promise. Don't tune out because you don't want to learn the truth.

What is the underlying presupposition of Hastert's insistence that the fault of the scandal lies with the democrats or the media? That they would still be covering it up?