Report: No sex charges for disgraced lawmaker
Foley abruptly resigned his seat last Fall.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Rep. Mark Foley, the Florida Republican who resigned his seat last fall after it was revealed he sent sexually explicit e-mails to underage House pages, is unlikely to face criminal charges for his behavior, Scripps Howard News Service reports.
The news agency reports federal investigators have been unable to gather enough evidence to prove Foley, 52, intended to "seduce, solicit, lure, entice, or attempt to seduce a child," with his inappropriate contacts.
While there is still a chance new evidence could come to light before the investigation officially wraps up "in the next several days," according to the report. Once the investigation is complete it will bet turned over to Pensacola prosecutors - the location from where Foley sent his inappropriate e-mails.
Foley abruptly resigned from Congress only weeks before the 2006 midterm elections after ABC News reported on a series of inappropriate e-mails and instant messages to teenage House pages.
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
"seduction, solicit, lure, entice, or attempts to seduce a child," are not crimes in Washington. Just ask Monica..
If this were Joe Public and he was emailing a decoy on the Chris Hansen show, he would have been arrested and tried. But since he is in government, we will accept his resignation and forget it happened. Is that American Justice?
I find it strange that this story just faded away. That's the way all stories involving congress seem to do. Like the story with the frozen $100,000 dollar congressman. There is the initial flare up, the pouding of chests by the other members and then nothing happens.
I don't know why so many people are so surprised when conservatives and religious zelots end up in the news because of these types of allegations. It seems that one who speaks so fervently against something, tends to have personal issues with it.
Of course he will get away with it.
Neocons and football players get away with murder and sexual child abuse.
It is just a fact that we live with under a Bush administration.
jack jett
http://www.yabbadabbahubbado.com
Foley shouldn't be "Nifong'd" – but if he broke the law he should be prosecuted. No "slack" because he was a congressman!
Yet another example of double standards when it comes to rich/vs average joe
If this had been anyone else, he would be in prison
Oh well, I guess he's just a respectable blogger like the rest of us.
Thanks for winning us Congress in 2006, Mark!
This is America where law applies only to poors not to lawmakers and celebrities. Americans are not treated equally. In long run this may be fatal to the foundations of our great democracy.
Of course the Feds couldn't find anything. Isn't it obvious he was trying to seduce them?
I've seen people convicted on to Catch a Predator with far less evidence.
Wow... Kinda makes you think why those dudes in MSNBC Dateline are arrested and ridiculed for doing exactly the same thing.
CNN... are you planning to expose this more or just sideline it like you seem to be doing now?
First, this story has typos in it. (Great Job) Second, this is just another example of people that have money/power getting away with things that normal people would never get away with. I mean, how many times have you seen that show "To Catch a Predator"? Do you ever hear of those guys getting away with the same things that Foley did?
As I watch Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator," and see so many people being led away in handcuffs for the same thing (having the INTENT to solicit sex from a minor), it becomes very apparent that Mark Foley (Predator, FL) is going to get away with this because of his status and money. Injustice is being done!
MSNBC is running episodes of a sting operation where men, using sexually explicit language, are responding to decoys posing as kids in chat-rooms on the internet and are arresting these men when they show up to have what they think is going to be sexual encounters with these "kids." Foley should be arrested and tried for the e-mails that he sent to these UNDERAGE pages. They were no different from the ones that common men sent. Here again we see that political clout protects even the political pedophile. When the light was turned on Foley, he ran into re-hab. Re-hab for what???
And why does this NOT suprise me? Just another typical outcome showing the people of our nation the power between the "Haves" & the "Haves Not" in the political arena. My opinion is that it is very clear the man is a pedophile. Not enough evidence? Sexually explicit e-mails to someone UNDERAGE is not enough evidence? Pray tell us what it would take to bring charges then? Disgraceful the outcome of this supposed investigation.
Yep, Once agian no accountability for the unaccountable.
He ought to be at least fined and forbidden to run for office again if no further evidence to prosecute him is found.
Well, la-dee-dah. This is life as usual in the State of Florida, home of Jeb Bush. Pedophile poofters and politicos are always welcome here.
I guess what happens in Washington DC stays in Washington DC as long as Bush is president. Hmm?
This really puts things in perspective...commit crimes against animals public outrage, news everyday, PETA boycotts....commit crimes against children NOTHING. This is a sad time we are living in.
The law does not apply to special interests!
Republican hypocrisy on this issue is sickening. Not only should Foley face charges, but so should the GOP leaders who helped him cover up his crimes. Are there any members of the “Christian coalition” or the “moral majority” out there with enough ethics to condemn one of your own? Or will you just use this story as an excuse to engage in more smear campaigns against others? Address the issue. A prominent Christian Republican anti-gay activist congressman used his office to seduce boys entrusted to his care, and he’s going to get away with it. If you aren’t willing to speak out against that, I don’t want to hear you mention morality or family values again, ever. At long last, have you no sense of decency?
"seduction, solicit, lure, entice, or attempts to seduce a child," are not crimes in Washington. Just ask Monica..
Posted By slickwilly : August 24, 2007 3:37 pm
Excuse me? Monica was an adult and by all accounts she was the one who initiated the seduction, not that it excuses Clinton's behavior, but she was no innocent babe in the woods.