Just watching Hastert’s press conference here. It’s great how he’s trying to shift this all of this off the House leadership and to unnamed people outside the House. The Hastert line seems to be: Hey, We Ignored it. So We’re Off the Hook.
Late Update: Seems they may be trying to shift this over to Rep. Alexander and former Clerk Trandahl.
Later Update: Needless to say, Hastert and Shimkus refused to take questions. And keep an eye on their new line, trying to dodge blame by saying that Foley waited for the pages to leave the program before he pounced.
Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) is doing a fundraiser for Rep. Jim Gerlach today in West Chester, PA. 4:00 PM. A chance for Gerlach to ask Boehner about whether he told Hastert about Foley.
Hastert’s statement. Dissect it yourself. And while we’re on the topic, why hasn’t he agreed to take press questions yet?
“The instant messages, reportedly between Congressman Foley and a former page sent in 2003, are vile and repulsive to me, and to my colleagues. No one in the Republican Leadership, nor Congressman Shimkus, saw those messages until last Friday when ABC News released them to the public. When they were released, Congressman Foley resigned. And I’m glad he did, if he had not, I would have demanded his expulsion from the House of Representatives.
“The page program is an important part of this institution. It has inspired many generations to enter public service. It is a trust, and as a parent and as the Speaker of the House, I am disgusted that Congressman Foley broke that trust. Anyone who had knowledge of these vile instant messages should have turned them over to authorities immediately so that kids could be protected.
“I repeat again, the Republican Leaders of the House did not have them. We have all said so. On the record. But someone did have them. And the ethics committee, the Justice Department, the news media – or anyone who can — should help us find out who.
“Yesterday I sent a letter to the Attorney General requesting he investigate to what extent any federal laws were violated by Congressman Foley, and also to find out who might have known about the sexually explicit instant messages. I was pleased to read in the newspaper this morning that the FBI has begun to investigate.
“I also sent a letter yesterday to Governor Bush, requesting an investigation to determine what state laws were violated. And I am certain the state of Florida will take my request seriously.
“Today I have met with Congressman Shimkus who is the head of the page board to discuss what we can do to make sure this never happens again. This will not be my last meeting on this subject. I intend to get advice on how we can make this program as safe as possible.
“Since I’ve been Speaker we have moved aggressively to insure the safety of these kids. We constructed new living quarters with state of the art security systems. We have added even more adult supervision. But we obviously need to do more, including providing assistance to these kids after they return home. After all, this vile instant message exchange reportedly took place after the page had returned home. Moms and Dads all across America know what a challenge it is to monitor contact with their kids in this new world of instant communication and cyberspace. That is our challenge too.
“Over the weekend I asked the clerk to move aggressively to set up a hotline. So parents, grandparents, pages, former pages…anyone who has a concern about improper contact…can confidentially report improper contact. Our pages are already taught to bring any concerns to their adult supervisor; but this will be one more opportunity, especially for them after they leave the program.
“Before I turn over the microphone to Mr. Shimkus for his statement, let me add this.
“Congressman Foley duped a lot of people. He lied to Mr. Shimkus and he deceived his instate newspaper when they each questioned him. He deceived the good men and women in organizations around this country, with whom he worked to strengthen our child predator laws. I have known him for all the years he served in this House. He deceived me, too.”
So a quick run-down on what some Republican reps are telling TPM Readers about Denny Hastert …
Rob Simmons (R-CT): Anyone involved in a cover up should resign. But no answer on the Hastert hypothetical.
Dave Reichert (R-WA): No position yet.
John Kline (R-MN): 100% with Hastert, doesn’t believe he knew.
Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA): 100% with Denny.
Ray LaHood (R-IL): Sticking with Hastert.
Eric Cantor (R-VA): Preparing a statement.
Jim Gerlach (R-PA): Too early to say.
Steve Buyer (R-IN): Staffer not at liberty to answer.
Sue Kelly (R-NY): Supports “the investigation”, will be sending a letter to constituents.
Ric Keller (R-FL): “Supports a full investigation into this matter”, staffer “could not comment” on whether Keller has lost confidence in the leadership.
Brian Bilbray (R-CA): “Bilbray’s office gave me a bunch of stuff about not all the facts being in.
They said he was in a meeting right now concerning the situation. I said I’d call back in a few hours to find out how the meeting went.”
Mike Turner (R-OH): No position on Hastert.
Last night I was browsing around looking for Foley pics. Sounds kind of sordid now that I write it out. But hopefully you know what I mean. Anyway, I found a couple pictures of Foley spending the some quality time with Rep. Dave Reichert at Reichert’s website. I snagged copies of the two pictures. And apparently the folks at horsesass.org did the same thing. And they’ve posted them to their site — just before Reichert’s staff scrubbed the site and removed the pictures.
Missouri press takes a pass on asking Rep. Blunt (R-MO) what he knew about Foley.
This has to be one of the choicest nuggets bubbling out of the GOP Foley meltdown. While House Republicans are lining up announcing how they believe Rep. Foley should be sent to Gitmo and immediately waterboarded, the House Republican campaign committee appears to be angling to get him to cough up his $2.7 million warchest so they can give it to other GOP members of Congress.
From the Times …
Carl Forti, the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Sunday that the committee would gladly accept Mr. Foleyâs money or part of it to devote to House races. Mr. Foley already gave $100,000 to the committee in July, campaign records show, as part of the partyâs Battleground Program, to which members are asked to contribute.
âThe money is in the control of Mr. Foley,â Mr. Forti said. âWhatever he decides to do with it is up to him.â
Money can’t buy ya love?
TPM Reader MM called up Rep. Tom Davis’s office. No comment on Hastert, but Tom supports the investigation.
TPM Reader CS called Rep. Sweeney (R-NY): “I just got off the phone with the DC office and his staffer said he was not taking a position regarding the House leadership in this matter yet, but I should check back in later in the week.”