I find it amazing that die-heart Republican zealots are actually blaming Brian Ross for exposing this sickening issue. They, myopic as ever, seem to think this is some type of Democratic conspiracy. Please wake up.....this country is headed in the wrong direction with the current leader(?) in Washington.
Foley should be prosecuted, along with those who protected him, to the fullest extent of the law. Hasert did not know the extent of the problem? Give me a break.

This is just great - the fox is guarding the chicken coop. If the congressional leadership has any knowledge of this type of behavior it should act immediately, and without mercy. It is bad enough the amount of power members of congress have on a daily basis let alone a pedophile with this kind of power. The time has come for this country to decide to protect our children - life prison terms for repeat offenders - possible federal penalties. Step up law makers clean your own houses

Absolutely one of the most despicable stories about the hypocracy of leaders that I've ever heard. As bad as accounts of so-called Christian ministers of any religion who have molested and/or talked dirty to young people (or who have just been plain immoral like Jimmy Swaggard and Jim Baker). This man Foley should go to jail for his terrible example, his careless handling of his authority, and his breaking of laws meant to protect kids from such acts.

A. Castellano

"A former senior Republican official in Congress says Foley was one of a handful of members and staff whose behavior with pages was being closely watched."

What???
How many more sexual predators do we need to be worried about?

that really is disgusting. if pages (especially teenage boys) who want to please and do well have to put up with this absolute crap, what has the world come to? foley better not get off because of his "alcoholism" and he better pay for creeping out and soliciting young boys who were just trying to do their job and get ahead in life. he is an absolutely despicable disgusting excuse for a man.

If the man did this, he is very troubled but I have another question:

How were investigators able to access these emails? Did the receipients save them - or is everything we have ever emailed available somewhere? That could be a good story too.

Why didn't Brian Ross bring this information to law enforcement as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) did when they were given the e-mails? If Ross and ABC News care about the safety and welfare of children, they'll come forward with everything they know and provide reasons why they suppressed this information until now.

My God have the Republicans done enough damage already? Is anybody so stupid to keep them in power? They will do ANYTHING to stay in power.

Absolutely! One of a "few"? What the HELL does that mean?

Amen to Dave......exactly what does it take for congress to act against congressional criminals and predators? We ought to be getting the names of these additional offenders, and they should be ushered through the same doors Foley last used. It's time for a major housecleaning too, and it should start at the top.

i was sickened and outraged by the transcript!he is definetly a pedophile and needs to go to prison for a long time,if it is found that anyone else had prior knowledge and did nothing they need to be charged as well.

Are these the same Republicans who dragged this country through 'Lewinsky-gate' in the name of family values? Where are the conservative pundits who rage about the weakness of Democrats and their inability to protect Americans? I guess pedophiles don't pose as much of a threat to Americans as terrorists - at least not in an election year.

I have been a republican my entire life, and so has been my family for generations.

God help us to protect our children from these pedophiles.
The GOP knew for years and did nothing to protect our children.

I don't know what good will come from a liberal house, but heaven forbid we leave those creeps in control any longer. We owe it to our children to protect them from these sleezy pedophiles.

This is the Republicsn version of "Text and run"

As a crime victim advocate for my local county district attorney's office, I unfortunately have seen such predatory behavior and much worse. Whether text messaging or email, predatory behavior against juveniles is not only immoral, it is a violation of law. Such conduct cannot be excused by drug abuse (alcohol is a drug), or mental illness. The damage caused by such behavior can have life-long effects for victims.
I hope that those children and their families affected by Mr. Foley's abusive behavior sue him for all he's got, and perhaps hold those other federal officiels in charge of the page program financially responsible for their failure to advocate for and protect the children involved.
I trust the legal system will act appropriately. And if not, we need to ask, "Why not?"

Immoral People
When interviewed by the media, Foley mention that people who use the internet to solicit sex are sick, sick people. What he really was doing was describing himself. The real crime is being perpetrated by the Republican leaders that tried to cover up the immoral incident and protect the 52 year old congressman rather than protecting the vulnerable children (pages) that innocently depend on the safety provided by these same Republican leaders. How ironic. Now, Republican leaders are rushing to meet to find a replacement for Foley, yet they never rushed to meet to protect the children. These Republican leaders must be held accountable and responsible for this crime.

If ABC News could get copies of these e-mails, then Republican leaders could have too. Five years ago pages were warned about Foley. Hastert and friends have no excuse.

What would have happened to the Republican leadership if ABC did not uncover this scandal!? They were going to probably continue to watch closely his and others behaviors. This is unbelievably disgusting.......

Oh, this is just great. He was one of the congressmen "whose behavior with pages was being closely watched." Wow, that inspires so much confidence in our leaders. [/sarcam]

This is a really disturbing case, but I think we need to keep digging until we get to the bottom of it. More victims need to come forward. We need to hold Foley and everyone who aided his actions to the highest legal and ethical standards, as members of Congress must be. The people must guard the sanctity of our institutions vigorously... something that hasn't been happening. Let's turn this ship around, people.

Good question -- leaving aside the past for a moment, think of the future -- what other sexual predations are the Republican leadership currently hiding?

one of the handful? there are more ??????

What IS this Republic congress !!!

what we need are law suits on the scale of the catholic church - sue each member who knew and did nothing, and sue the entire GOP, they have the money to pay big.
Then hit 'em with criminal charges. This is the only way to stop pedophiles in high places, save Bobbitizing them.

Say what you want about the media. But thank you, thank you, thank you for getting this information to the public. How many children have our public officals put at risk? How dare they protect their own, and not ours? Everyone in this congress--regardless of side should step up and say enough with party politics. If anyone, knew and did not do a thing---you are fired. How dare you, how dare you, how dare you. These children are our future leaders. You are held to a hire standard. You are intrusted with our saftey--you are our voice. How dare you turn your back and make quiet suggestions. If it was your child, what would you have wanted? They should be thrown out.

Every group of people has its share of perverts and criminals, so this incident should not be taken as proof that ALL republicans are a bunch of perverts. That said, the fact that Foley was in such a visible position of power makes his behavior particularly reprehensible. Why hasn't he been arrested?

Speaker Hastert should step down from his leadership post -- at least temporarily -- until the FBI finishes its investigation. He could -- and should -- have been able to stop Foley; he had (or could obtain) the information.

There should be an investigation into when the Dems knew about this and did not report it to the authorities. These emails have been around for years and they just now come out weeks before the election? Sounds a bit fishy.

I wonder how long the news media will hound this story? I give it a week. Then it will drop off the radar screen. The news media may nibble around the edges for a while but will stop well short of biting off the hand that feeds them. It should be in the news everyday until the investigations are over. Anyone with half a brain knows that the big story here is the coverup. What was most important to the House Republican leadership was to hold on to Foley's house seat not the safety and well being of these children.

Why didn't ABC come forward with this information five years ago? Answer: your liberal "news organization" and the DNC sat on it until an election year.

This is an example of how detach the politicians are from the general public. What Foley did is wrong; it shouldn't matter whether he is Republican or Democrat. He needs help. The situation will be worse if others knew about it and not do anything, because they sat around and let it happen. A full-scale investigation must be done and all those culpable in any way should be held accountable for their actions or inactions.

We only see the guys who get caught. Statistic would suggest that for every guy caught, there are probably ten who get away with it.

What Foley did was just so wrong, and I can't help but hope that the GOP takes a big hit for it. They lie lie lie. And they tell us that God is on their side? What a load of hogwash.

i can't believe how many people take sides based upon their party affiliation. You all are very small minded individuals. The fact is it's a bad situation and Foley was wrong. Be you a Dem,Rep,Ind it really doesn't matter. You all really do disgust me, did you ever attend school? Seriously, since when did party affiliation determine if an action is right/wrong. I am for our country and for what's right. Many of the comments are right on, but some of this stuff just bugs me to no end.

Being a Republican is becoming more and more embarrassing. I don't like the Democrats but the Republicans need a real devastating defeat in November, God help us in the interim years.
I plan to lean Democratic not because I like them but because I hate what the Republican Party and George Bush have become.

I predict this scandal will end up like the travel scandal. Democrats tried to gin anti-Republican sentiment by outing travel that was paid for by lobbyists. All the sudden it turned out that democrats had done the same thing. Since there is already one documneted case of a gay Democratic Congressman and a page, who is to say that the 4 or 5 that the leadership were watching were all Republican. Now that the can of worms is opend, lets dump the whole thing out.

You know Mr. Foley voted for the "No Child Left Behind" Act(s) when in reality he is much closer to "No Child Left Alone". Sad and despicable. Perhaps the Democrats will finally take one timid little swing having pumled all these years- of course that's asking a lot too. Fighting Bob La Follette must be turning in his grave.

I laugh how everyone makes this is a Republican issue. Democrats/Republicans it doesn't matter both parties would of acted the same. Democrats most likely heard about the emails and the behaviour as well. Why didn't they act? It all stinks.

Whoops! Time to bring out another UBL tape and raise the Terror Alert.
It works every time.

The problem here is that everyone commenting seems to think that only the "evil Republicans" are capable of this.

Got news for you, they aren't.

Sickos are in BOTH parties, and a very unflattering light is starting to shine on their behavior.

I hope the Democratic party is ready for that, and forces any member who violate this new-found moral standard to resign immediately...just like Foley was forced to do by his leadership and constituents.

nawww, c'mon, these are just a few "naughty emails" is all.

Mark my words, this event is not yet over. Trails are being covered up, but they won't be completely destroyed. The truth will come out and when first of the Republican party leaders who knew of Foley's indescretions is singled out you can bet that individual will NOT wish to be the only one getting a pie thrown at him.

AM posts...
These Republican leaders must be held accountable and responsible for this crime.

What a crock! Foley is one man who happens to be a republican. He is also innocent till proven guilty at a trial..yes republicans have a right to a fair trial too! suprise suprise.
I guess you think all the republicans in the world knew about this and kept silent. You probably think Karl Rove was behind this conspiracy. Time to take off your tin foil hat!

Also, apparently the age of legal consent is 16 in DC (and in many other states). Many something should be done about that...

Foley is horrible and I'm glad he's being dealt with properly(unlike past cong. men who not only talked sex with underage pages but had sex with them). This isn't a Dem./Rep. issue.(look it up, you'll see it effects all parties) It's a society issue of pedophilia, and it's everywhere. We need national sentancing guidelines that judges MUST follow. I want to know who the source was for the graphic text messages, How long did they have them before ABC recieved them. They are three years old.

If they knew enough in 2001 then why did they not know the nature of the emails?Seems a little odd to warn pages 5 years ago and then play dumb when the truth comes out.There is more complicity here than the members of congress are willing to accept openly.That would destroy thier career also and demand their resignation.Brian Ross and team keep digging and find out how much they knew and when for he sake of our country.Attempted child molestion is a heinous crime being complicit in it is almost equally heinous.

I for one think this is hilarious. How marvelous to see these slimy old biblethumping, "To Catch a Predator" fans get caught themselves.

Hastert, Reynolds, Boehner, Alexander . Conspiracy.

I'm not sure who knew what when but since this can't help but be spun as political I note an interesting contrast. Whether it's the Wall Street Journal or other Republicans they cut no slack. Democrats toss out "vast right wing conspiriacies" Republicans resign and get their just desserts. Democrats fight it out to the end and back each other with claims of "loyalty" and not turning their backs on friends. Republicans are much more consistant...if he broke the rules/law/ethics....he deserves it!!

The Speaker of the House should resign. He has demonstrated that he is no leader-- just a coverup guy. It is time to out all the child preditators on Capital Hill. If there is suspicion of any wrong doing with children by members of Congress, it should be immediately investigated by the FBI, not covered up like this case.

Why is this a political issue? Foley is apparently a pedophile who happens to be a Republican. The fingerpointing and Republican bashing misses the entire point. A man in a position of power used his office to further his own sick, twisted desires. He, along with any other member of Congress who knew or should have known what was going on should be punished. Period. Anyone who uses this horrific situation for political gain is demeaning the victims in this case.

What is sad is everybody seems to be missing the point. This isn't a Republican vs. Democrat issue. Granted it appears suspicious that emails were held for months and years to be released after the primary to achieve maximum political effect. Republicans now are covering for the same political effect. Tawdry sexual scandals have been going on there for years. If you are an evil bumb, you should be prosecuted and thrown out, not torn down or protected just for political purposes. A skunk is a skunk, no matter the stripe, they all smell bad.

"A former senior Republican official in Congress says Foley was one of a handful of members and staff whose behavior with pages was being closely watched."

There are a lot of people in this strand who are asking "how many more Republican perverts are there?" Notice, the official didn't specify which party these other members came from. The Dems are taking full advantage of this situation, but it could come back to bite them. They are assuming that there's not another Gerry Studds in their own ranks.

ABC News says several former pages are talking about former and current members of Congress who may or may not have done the same thing as Foley. It could easily come out in the next six weeks that a Dem congressman has been equally involved in some lurid business with a teen. It's not a pretty thought, six weeks before an election, to see sex scandal become such an important election year issue.

Every one of these posts that tries to generalize everything to be either Republican or Democrat is missing the point here. What Congressman Foley did to those boys is despicable, but he did do one thing right: he stepped down. What I am worried about is why anyone who knew about (not suspected)his behavior, whether Democrat or Republican, politician or reporter, allowed this to continue even one day after they found out. Foley should be punished for what he did, but anyone who allowed it to happen after then knew it was happening...they should be punished for being complicit and enabling his behavior. Finally, as for a Republican leader saying that Foley was "one of a handful" being watched...he did not specify whether the "handful" were Democrat or Republican. You shouldn't jump to conclusions and assume it is a Republican just because a Republican said it.

Mark Foley's behavior is clear evidence of the effect of consequences and stimuls control with human behavior; he was reinforced for speaking against sexual predators by one audience (the public) and at the same time was reinforced by smut talking with teens. This is a common occurrence in daily life--Foley is just a very public, dramatic example.

This story makes me nauseous. Mark Foley is obviously a sick man, and his hypocriticical pontifications on pedophilia show the depths of his denials. I actually feel sorry for him and hope he gets the help he needs.

The response by Hastert et al. reminds me of the Cardinal Law: Defend the Church/Party first. Children entrusted to their care are victimized by pederasty, but maintaining power and prestige trumps upholding the law and protecting the innocents.

If the GOP values power more than the lives of children, it needs to be voted out en masse.

Bravo to Brian Ross for exposing this criminal. I want to know who the other Congressmen are who are being watched - what are they doing about that? Does the full House Page Board know about it (including the Dem?)

Not only was Mel Reynolds, a Democrat, pardoned by Clinton, a Democrati, for having sex with an underage page, Mel Reynolds is now working as a YOUTH DIRECTOR for Jesse Jackson, Democrat, at the Rainbow Push Coalition.

Its ignorant to think that the sociopathic sickness demonstarted by Foley is relationary to a political philosophy. Any political debate is rendered mute once you allow your rational sensibilities reach this stage where any and everything is fair game.

What's worse, committing the crime or pardoning the individual so he can continue the behavior?

It's too bad that someone making comments on this subject of Foley, that all he could think of saying or worried about is that the Democrats are at fault because he thinks that they conspired knowingly and had it brought up before an election. ReaL GOOD, GLAD ONE OF your kids are not a victim? maybe that would've gave you a different angle on the story!

After the Lewinskygate:

"It's vile," said Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach. "It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."

And he went to rehab for alcoholism?

As a recovering alcoholic I resent the fact that so many perverts and antisemites use alcoholism as an excuse for there antisocial behavior. They seem to be claiming that alcohole caused them to act in the sick way that they do. This makes it very difficult for those of us who are struggling with this disease.

This is reprehensible but not limited to republicans. Does the name Mel Reynolds ring any bells among democrats. In addition major newspapers such as the Miami Herald had the same emails as Hastert , 5 years ago, and felt them too innocuous for further review.
The IM's were not available to republican leadership until published by ABC. As usual the dems take this for a witch hunt. Clean your own house first. Lastly, one should not assume the other members who are being watched are also republicans. It is not stated as such. But hey, lets find out.

You've gotta love election season. Lets hold all the dirt until its time to vote. I'm a republican, and I'm saying that this guy needs to go to jail for abuse of power and soliciting a minor at the very least.

I can't really identify with either party anymore. They are both headed in the same direction, South. This election will only determine just how fast we get there.

When we need to do is vote out ALL incumbents, republican and democrat. There are far too powerful people in congress. Vote them all out, start new with everyone, and this country will be far better off. Plus, if they are finally accountable for a change, people will think before action.

I am pleased and surprised to see true investigative journalism coming out of the mainstream media. Thanks to Brian Ross for uncovering this unconscionable abuse of high school students sent to Washington. The idea that there were others they were covering up for is disgusting. I hope that the others who did this type of thing are uncovered.

Emma wrote --
"If the man did this, he is very troubled but I have another question:
How were investigators able to access these emails? Did the receipients save them - or is everything we have ever emailed available somewhere? That could be a good story too."

Emma -- everything, anyone writes on the internet is available to those with the tools to capture it. This isn't the US Postal service -- the delivery isn't direct and there is a long trail of all of the e-mail and IM messages.

The fact is, this has been absolutely despicable. The thing is. It has happened on both sides of the aisle and there are repulsive people in either party. So rather than trying to pin this on the whole Republican party, the Democrats should look inward and if any issue should unite the two parties, this one should unite them against disgusting, vile people in their midst. Stop making this a political tool and start protecting kids. Clean your house together...too much to hope for, I know. But this Staunch Republican is sick of us not protecting our kids...inside or outside the beltway.

Title VII is a federal law that protects employees from sexual harassment. If these pages are employees of the federal government, Hassert and other "supervisors" had a legal obligation to commence an investigation once the report of sexual harassment was made or the employer otherwise became aware of the incident(s). The law is designed to protect employees whom the employer knew or should have known may be subjected to unlawful sexual harassment. The Republican cover-up is not simply political maneuvering. It was unlawful. The fact that the pages are minors makes it even more reprehensible.

I believe that this goes deeper than "Republican" or "Democrat". I think that this just shows the flaws in our government-and what humans will do to 1)delude themselves, and 2)hang on to power at any cost. This "pandemic", of not protecting the least among us - be it children, the poor, or the disenfranchised - only shows how far we all have fallen. We can show all the righteous indignation we want, and delude ourselves into thinking that "the other party" will be better come November, but until we address the real issues that matter, this kind of evil will only increase.

Wow..some people here are actually comparing what Clinton did with what Foley has done! Come on people...Foley was being inappropriate with KIDS! Clinto had a consentual relationship with an ADULT! No double standard here..and no comparison.

Don't they call Dennis Hastert "coach"? Isn't this because he is a former high school coach? If he were certified as a secondary teacher in just about any state in this country me must have had to have training about mandatory reporting laws on physical and sexual threats to children. I can't imagine any high school teacher (former or not) reading even those first e-mails without having major red flags go up. He knew what he should do.

Pretty soon you will hear the Republicans say this is a Democratic polt. When then President Clinton had the affair with Minica Lewinsky, theey wer quick to call for Impeachment. They were relentless with their attacks against the Democratic party. This administration, is not only one of the worst to hold office but one of the most corrupt. In their zeal to hold onto to power they will go to the extream to lie and chest. And this is the party of the Christian right. The so called moral party. That stands for true American values. If that is what Republicans stand for, than God help us as a nation.

What hypocrites? The same group of people that profess the prophet are the sames one that break the law (Delay & Foley) and avoid protecting our children.

It does not matter whether Foley used to be a Dem or not. He represents the Repub party now and the Repubs tried to cover up his pedophile activities.

The GOP is doing the same thing the Church had done for decades --cover up sexual predators among their lot. The GOP jumped all over Clinton & Monica -- but at least they were both adults in a consensual affair -- not a pedophile stalking minors!

At work today, several co-workers and I had a discussion about this matter. All of us agreed that the Republicans are failing our children. The Republican leadership (Hastert et al.) should resign, as they knew about this scandal at least a year beforehand, and kept all the information from the general public.

This is the Catholic Church all over again. Hide and protect the pedophiles to avoid "embassement." Hastert and anyone else, regardless of party, who know anything about this in advance should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These people need to do hard time (10, 20, 30 years) in a real prison with the rest of the scum of the earth. This is sickening. The Republicans are the biggest phonies in Washington.

Maybe it's time to get rid of all the perverts, sickos, drunks, druggies, wife beaters and useless people in Congress on both sides of the aisle! Would certainly lead to smaller government. The 25 or so that would be left might start listening to the people that sent them there.

I have written President Bush and told him that I did not appreciate Tony Snow's flip comments about "naughty emails".

I have emailed Senator Richard Lugar's office and told him that the Senate has a responsibility to investigate the conduct of the FBI which has been on notice since June of this year.

I have emailed Nancy Pelosi's office apprising her of my actions as well as Congresswoman Julia Carson.

There is a stench of sulfur coming from all areas of the Federal government.

Charles J. Collet

There is a lot of confusion between the emails and the IM logs. I wonder how old the other party was in the IM logs when the exchange took place? I wonder who sat on those logs for so long, waiting for the opportune moment to spring them. I deplore what Foley did, but that's only part of this story. I wonder if the rest will ever come out.

I believe Speaker Hastert when he says he wasn't aware of the IM's that incriminated Foley. If this blows up into some kind of political scandal for the Republicans in the upcoming elections, I got two words they can use to fire back at the Democrats, "Gerry Studds".

Hide behind the bible, then behind alcoholism, bad childhood, poor parenting, stress at work, the bottom line is this guy is a pervert and he had a lot of help covering up his sick problem from none other then the top Repubs.
So my question is WHEN IS THE NEXT TERROR ALERT! Grannysue

It is inconceivable that many members of Congress - in both parties - did not know or at least have an inkling of what Foley was about. And, they surely know of the others as well. What do they do about it? Nothing. These politicians are totally incapable of policing themselves because they are all egocentric personalties who see themselves above all our laws. We really must clean house in both parties. If we don't begin electing men and women with legitimate moral fiber our country is destined to implode. We have found our worst enemy - and it is us. We must insist on term limits and NONcareer politicians who feed at the public trough while accomplishing nothing year after year.

Again, with the Bill Clinton comments. Will these right-wing nut jobs ever learn. Sorry, Foley was soliticing action from underage boys; Bill had the sense to sleep with a consenting adult.

The fact that Republican leadership knew about this since 2001 speaks volumes; the character of our nation rests on this November.

As for the issue of whether Foley is gay or not (aside from the fact that the GOP is sooooo hypocritical on the issue), it has nothing to do with it. Gay does not equal pedophilia. If you believe that, you are a conservative, right-wing wack job and deserve the country we have right now.

It's time for a change in Washington! The Foley incident is just the latest event in a pattern of lies, deceit, cronyism, and abuse of power by the party currently in power. These revelations are not pretty. It is time for ALL persons of good will to act responsibily and remove them from office. Our beloved country is at stake!

...and isn't it convenient an 'alcohol' problem is keeping Foley sequestered from further inquiry.

Mark Foley is just one in line of Republican congressional sex offenders. Think back a few years to Ohio Congression Donald "Buz" Lukens, who was prosecuted and convicted for having sex with a 16-year old girl, refused to resign, then was caught fondling a young elevator operator and finally resigned. A few years later he was also convicted in a House banking scandal. Why do conservative religious people continue to vote for these people?