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(Washington) A national organization the
fights for the rights of LGBT youth is calling for a full investigation of
former Congressman Mark Foley's email and text messages to Capitol Hill pages.
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition said that
it is "shocked" by the "lurid email exchanges" and if
Foley is guilty of a crime "he should be prosecuted under the very laws he
helped to enact."
'Gay or straight, Congressman Mark Foleys
behavior is like that of a predator who should be arrested and prosecuted for
his criminal behavior; and those around him who knew, and did not act to stop
him, are just as guilty" said NYACs Executive Director, Craig Bowman.
"We are talking about a sixteen-year-old who
was exploited by a person in power - someone he should have been able to
trust," said Bowman in a statement.
The Florida Republican resigned his seat on
Friday after it was disclosed he had sent "inappropriate" emails to a
former Congressional Page. (story)
Monday allegations began surfacing that Foley also sent messages to other former
pages and the Republican leadership in the House had known about the situation
for some time. (story)
"The possibility that the leadership of the
House of Representatives had knowledge of the congressman's behavior, but did
not act to stop what can only be characterized as child sexual abuse, is
outrageous," said Bowman. " Instead, he was allowed to remain as the
powerful co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited
Children."
"The American public needs to know what the
House leadership knew, and when they knew it."
In new revelations Tuesday, ABC news reported
that Foley interrupted a vote on the floor of the House in 2003 to engage in
Internet sex with a high school student who had served as a congressional page.
The network said that it had in its possession 52 pieces of correspondence
between Foley and two different boys under the age of 18. Copies of the
emails were posted on the ABC Web site.
While the GOP continued to try to contain the
damage on Tuesday, a leading conservative newspaper called for House Leader
Dennis Hastert to step down. In an editorial the Washington Times said Hastert
was either "grossly negligent" or he "deliberately looked the
other way."
“Mr. Hastert has forfeited the confidence of
the public and his party, and he cannot preside over the necessary coming
investigation, an investigation that must examine his own inept performance,”
The Times said.
A spokesperson for Hastert said he had no
intention of resigning. Hastert insists top GOP aides acted appropriately.
Meanwhile, David Roth, Foley's attorney, held a
news conference in West Palm Beach, Florida to say that Foley was “absolutely,
positively not a pedophile” and had never had inappropriate sexual contact
with a minor.
Bowman said that the issue is not one of
sexuality. "This is an issue about protecting children from those who seek
to do them harm. It should be a priority for our country. Somehow, it seems to
have gotten lost," he said.
"I've been working on issues facing our
nations young people for 15 years and I've never been more disheartened.
I've seen first-hand plenty of Congressional battles when it comes to
youth-focused funding or priorities, but to learn that some in leadership had
the chance to stop active abuse against a child and did nothing . . . that's
unacceptable. They should be embarrassed, ashamed and held responsible, added
Bowman.
Matt Foreman, the executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force agrees that the issue is not sexuality.
"Given the fact that the current Republican
leadership in the House has never hesitated to attack gay people, it’s even
more absurd for people like Newt Gingrich to say the reason they didn't take
prompt action was because they didn’t want to be accused of ‘gay bashing.’
Cut me a break," said Foreman.
“What’s clear is that the House leadership
elevated holding onto a seat above the interests of young people in the page
system. And they want to talk about ‘moral values’? Please.”
©365Gay.com 2006
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