Kirk Fordham, Rep. Tom Reynolds’ (R-NY) now former chief of staff, interceded on Mark Foley’s behalf not once but twice, according to the Hotline.
We already knew Fordham reportedly tried to prevent ABC from printing the more explicit IM conversations this past weekend.
But now, the Hotline reports that this spring Fordham did all he could to keep GOP leadership from sharing Foley’s “over-friendly” emails with the full House Page Board.
From The Hotline:
According to a senior Republican official in Washington, Fordham, in the spring of 2006, promised both Rep. John Shimkus, the chairman of the page board as well as a staff member in Speaker Dennis Hastertâs office, that he would make sure Foley kept his nose clean. Fordham had spent ten years as Foley’s chief of staff and is one of his closest friends. He was acting here in two capacities: as a representative of Reynolds, the chair of the campaign committee, and as a friend to Foley.
His assurances were enough to prevent Hastertâs staff from recommending any further action. Shimkus decided not to inform the full page board in part because of Fordhamâs intercession, according to these sources.
ABC also reported earlier today that Fordham “urged Republican leaders not to raise questionable Foley e-mails with the full Congressional Page Board.”
