The Foley Affair: Warnings ignored, abuse enabled

By Michael J.W. Stickings

It looks likes the cover-up/denial goes back years, according to ABC News's The Blotter:

A Republican staff member warned congressional pages five years ago to watch out for Congressman Mark Foley, according to a former page.

Matthew Loraditch, a page in the 2001-2002 class, told ABC News he and other pages were warned about Foley by a supervisor in the House Clerk's office.

But nothing was done. Why? Loraditch says it was because "members of Congress, they've got the power". Which makes this all the more repugnant. Foley was in a position of power over impressionable young people and he abused that power, abusing those young people from, and avoiding being found out because of, his position of power.

John Amato: "There's no way for the Republican leadership to feign ignorance or miscommunication any longer. Hastert and Co. should be held accountable."

For more on Foley and Hastert, see Firedoglake. For more on Tom Reynolds and Foley, see AMERICAblog. For the scandal within the scandal, see The Moderate Voice. For the right's defence of Hastert, see Unclaimed Territory. For a run-down of "[t]he latest sleaze," see Pam's House Blend. Get everything you want to know at Memeorandum.

Sick and twisted on all levels, no? But what's worse? What Foley did or what the GOP leadership did to cover it all up?