Asking for a picture: There could be an innocent explanation for that. If the kid wanted to use him as a reference later, or apply for an internship, it helps associate a name with a face.

Birthday presents: Off limits, even if the birthday is next week and not four months away.

there is nothing on the pages. And my first comment to that effect is not appearing on your page.

There is no question that this whole thing has been long worthy of further investigation and intervention. To criticize ABC for pursuing it is akin to these disgusting tactics of blaming, ABC itself, the victims, the parents, some liberal conspiracy, etc. The responsibility lies with Foley and those who sought to protect him and themselves over the welfare of others.

The obvious next question for anyone sent to talk to Foley about this should have been:

"Have you been in contact, e-mail or otherwise, with any other pages?"

As House Republican Whip Roy Blunt said:

"I think I could have given some good advice here, which is you have to be curious, you have to ask all the questions you can think of," he said. "You absolutely can't decide not to look into activities because one individual's parents don't want you to," he said.

That sounds about right to me. the fact that those sent to question Foley confined their question(s) to this specific instance shows negligence. Keep in mind that not asking questions was precisely what got the Catholic Church in trouble in the priest scandal.

The "We-talked-to-him-and-he-told-us-he-would-stop" defense didn't cut it for Cardinal Law in Boston and it shouldn't cut it for the House leadership, either. Protecting kids from sexual predation by those who have a power arrangement over them should be more important than simply taking a guy's word on it.

Blunt has it right.

Dear ABC News,

I cannot believe that Foley has gotten away with this for so long. I equate his behavior to a teacher seducing their student. Why isn't he in prison and on the sexual predator list? It would happen to anyone else. Why not him?

Martha Fuller

I believe that you have shaped this October to fit right into your plans as far as letting the dems win - Are you prepared for what it will be like if Pelosi becomes Leader????????? Please!?

Yes, the Foley emails should have been investigated - anyone using their position to sexually harass a fellow employee should be investigted and appropriately charged - what are we coming to as a society?? Have we no morals?? I can't believe the comments taht I have been reading on this site - that it is a Democratic prank etc - where are you heads - wake up and realize that there are folks in DC who don't give a damn about our country and its citizens - they feel untouchable and think they can get away with anything - they have gotten away with the torture, and deaths of thousands of US soldiers and Iraqui childre, women and men. When are people going to look beyond party lines and see what evils these Evil forces in DC are doing to our country, citizens and the world.

yes, those emails were definitely worthy of investigation, as they involved improper conduct with a minor and breach of a fiduciary duty to the minor. Foley was NOT drunk....he was in a predatory mode!

There is no question Foley's E-mails and actions should have been investigated when they first came to light.

This is, once again, an example of the GOP not holding itself to the same standards it expects everyone else to adhere to.

Republicans continually enact laws restricting rights, criminalizing behavior and attempting to prosecute (and persecute) people they don't like.

Of course, that is for everyone except Republicans in safe house seats.

Yes the first emails warranted investigation. This is hypocracy on the part of my republican party. No man is above the law. Not even the president. An investigation should have been launched immediately. I wonder why this man has been hiding in a mental clinic since last sunday? Why has the FBI not interviewed him yet? All the house leadership should be questioned under oath.

If the parents of this boy had to contact there Representative to stop Rep. Foley from contacting their child, it screams of wrong doing.

There is NO excuse for this not be taken seriously.

I believe that since Republicans were warned about this man they should have been alarmed at what he was trying to do! In one of the e-mails he refers to a 16 year old's hot body! Get real!

Yes, they should have been investigated, he is implying a gift offered by asking what the child wanted, and then asked for an email pic. Email pics are a dead give away somone is interested in more than a friendly exchange.

No, I think it is a hatchet job. Totally political

uh-huh

How can you possibly ask that question? Of couse Foley, and those who enabled this to continue by sweeping it under the rug, must be investigated on a criminal level. Do not trust the politicains to effctively "investigate" this. They had their chances, time and time again, over the years and failed to do so. Foley's behavior is called "grooming" behavior, which precedes and sets-up the victimization of a child. Before this investigation is over, I have no doubt that a page will confess to being sexually perpetrated by Mr. Foley. Foley is the same kind of sexual predator that gets caught in a sting on another network's show that highlights this despicable behavior. The only difference is that Foley has his Republican Party to hide behind. Foley should be subject to the exact same Chester-the-Molerster laws that he passed in Florida while acting under the guise of a pure and God-fearing man who wants nothing more than to hang all the child molesters in Hell. That was nothing more than a smoke screen for his CRT-screen indiscretions. I know his type well. I used to work with child molesters as a counselor. I hope that he serves hard time in the same prisons as the other child molesters...and has to experience what the other child molesters do...it's not pretty.

OF COURSE!!!

Yes these emails are worth investing. No they aren't worthy of indicting, but that is another matter isn't it?

It is extremely clear from the chronology of the ABC investigation that all that was needed to get the sexually explicit transcripts was letting the victims know that someone was willing to listen to their story. It should not be surprising that a 16-year old would be afraid of challenging a member of congress. But if the House had made discreet inquireys amongst former pages they obviously would have gotten all of the information they needed to stop this right away.

As a retired teacher, I find the entire saga disgusting. It needs investigating and heads should roll. Our kids need protection from sexual predators and it applies to both political parties.

If a kid can think they are sick, sick, sick, so would any adult who is not focused on "how can we save this seat and keep this super fund raiser for the republican cause." This was a very deliberate case of see no evil because it benefited their cause. Totally repugnant. Where was the House Page Board during 2001 until now? Republicans REFUSE to do oversight.