Authorities were investigating whether Foley might have used computers in Florida to engage or solicit minors in any illegal activities.
The Republican, who represented Florida's 16th District in Congress, resigned in September 2006 after suggestive e-mails and instant messages he had written to teenage House pages surfaced in the media.
Florida agency spokeswoman Heather Smith said last month that investigators hoped to finish their work within two weeks and that results of the investigation would be turned over to State Attorney Bill Eddins in Pensacola, Florida, where Foley was at the time he is said to have communicated with a young man.
But the agency said the House of Representatives had blocked efforts to review files on computers Foley used in his congressional office. Smith said the agency was working with the FBI and Foley's lawyers to review the contents of those computers, which are federally owned.
Foley's attorneys had denied that he ever engaged in sexual activity with minors.
"I have no comment," Foley's attorney David Roth said Thursday when asked about the reported closure of the Florida investigation. "I cannot confirm or deny your report."
A federal investigation of Foley has been closed for some time, according to sources.
Foley entered a treatment facility for alcoholism shortly after he resigned and revealed that he is gay and was molested by a priest when he was between the ages of 13 and 15.
A House Ethics Committee investigation of the scandal concluded in December 2006 that House GOP leaders were negligent in not protecting male teenage pages from possible improper advances by Foley. But the panel said there were no violations of the House Code of Official Conduct and decided that no one would be reprimanded.
A Justice Department report issued a month later said the FBI should have notified the House or other officials when members first learned of inappropriate e-mails. The FBI acted within its "range of discretion" when it initially decided not to open a criminal investigation in the case, the Justice Department said. But the internal watchdog's investigation concluded that simply filing away the complaint from a public interest group was an inadequate response.This is amazing to me. Absolutely amazing. So in other words, I can be an alcoholic that has been molested by a priest and provided I am in politics be federally protected. All I need to do to top it all off is "get treatment for my alcoholism". Ahh, fuck off. I am very angry about this. It is irrelevant to me whether he is a Republican or a Democrat but I am sure that is how some will see this turn of events. My political knowledge and opinions are not used to defend or excuse sending suggestive e-mails and text messages to an under-aged boy. How is it possible that the investigation is closing because people are not co-operating? Do subpoena's not work in Florida? Is the HOR immune to subpoenas? Cause if so that is fantastic (sarcasm). Thrilling (more sarcasm). Too bad Michael Jackson didn't have that kind of protection. I know he was found not guilty but he would have been saved a lot of (Jesus Juice) embarassment.
And no one is going to be "reprimanded" for keeping this quiet? If only I knew co-workers who were as tight lipped as these people are.
Oh, and how is this not a violation? So, let me get this straight, it is okay for adults to make advances on those that are underage? Because I thought we had a sex offender registry for those particular adults. I think somebody better be suing somebody else if this is acceptable afterall. I would think that the creators of the sex offender list would be in danger of having infringed the civil rights of several thousand people.
"...no violations of the House Code of Official Conduct..." I wonder what would be a violation since getting drunk and hitting on underage boys is not a violation.
I am interested to know why the HOR wouldn't co-operate with the investigation. Something to hide? Did they not want the Republican party compared to the Catholic church? Too late, I mean Foley brought the Catholic church into this. Being molested does not make you a molester. Getting drunk does not excuse your behavior. Going to rehab doesn't absolve one of responsibility either. He jumped on the bandwagon like everyone else who has fucked up recently. He didn't appear to take personal responsibility for his actions. He came up with excuses and then went into hiding.
How many kids has Foley hit on? And why isn't protecting them a priority? Does anyone care how this kid feels? No. Probably not. He can't vote or go off to war yet.
If this were an ordinary citizen Chris Hansen would be on them like white on rice.
And I am certain that they would be on that sex offender registry that I mentioned earlier. Foley is free to do whatever he wants now. I wonder what he is up to these days. The recidivism rate is very high among these type of offenders. It took Michael Jackson awhile but he eventually acted out again (or was finally caught). There is a statistic (but I can't remember the exact numbers) it has something to do with for each time a child molester is apprehended there are (insert number) victims that are not known about.
*sigh*
I realize physical contact isn't an issue in this particular case but don't be so naive to think that this isn't serious or that it couldn't happen. One doesn't wake up one day and decide to be a child molester or a serial murderer. These things take time to happen. And Foley broke a boundary by contacting this kid. I doubt things will get better for him.
1 comment:
Fuck yeah!
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