| Remember Mark Foley? He was the Republican congressman from Florida whose scandal nearly cost Rep. Tom Reynolds his reelection bid in 2006 and had an impact on other Republican leaders as well, including former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
The FBI is still investigating Foley, but today it was reported that no state or federal charges would be filed against Foley.
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley isn't expected to face charges after a lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages, two federal law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case, said the results of a state investigation would be announced Friday.
They said neither state nor federal charges were expected, although an FBI investigation has not been closed yet.
According to that same piece, it looks like the investigation of Foley wasn't easy.
In a letter to the FDLE obtained by The Associated Press, House Deputy General Counsel Kerry Kircher wrote that because the data "may contain legislative information that is constitutionally privileged ... and because Mr. Foley has not waived that privilege ... we cannot simply give you access."
The Florida agency had been working with the FBI and Foley's attorneys to gain access to information on the computers. Foley's attorneys have declined to comment throughout the investigation.
Foley himself was the only person who could release the computers for review, but he had refused. It was not immediately clear what information from the computers investigators had been able to review - if any - before concluding their investigation.
House officials said they did not find any sexually explicit photos in a review of some e-mails Foley sent and received through his congressional account, but the e-mails did not include all of Foley's communications.
I almost forgot about Mark Foley. I'm not surprised that he wasn't charged with anything. He resigned his seat, went into seclusion and rehab and hasn't be heard from since. I guess that's good enough, but what if he wasn't a congressman? I doubt he would have it this good. No charges, a trip to rehab and you get to stay on the streets. Not bad. At least for Foley anyway. |
