After Representative Mark Foley's resignation from Congress following ABC's release of inappropriate instant message conversations with a page, all hell has broken loose. This story has taken on a life of its own and there are new developments every day. Like this one: Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert has known about this for THREE YEARS and took NO action. That speaks for itself.

It was revealed on Tuesday morning that Foley admits to being gay and was molested as a child by a clergy member - one could presume a Catholic one since that's what's listed in a congressional directory. Conveniently, at the moment, Foley is in a treatment center for alcoholism and mental issues. Mental issues could refer to a wide variety of things, but one simple guess is pure stress from the scandal. Foley is expected to stay at least 30 days at the treatment center.

Mark Beck-Heyman is a former Republican page from 1995.

From The Washington Post

He said a departing page told him to be "very careful" of Foley. Within weeks, Beck-Heyman said, Foley had learned his name and asked at least once to take him to get ice cream. He declined. After one all-night work session, Beck-Heyman's girlfriend -- another page -- offered to bring him breakfast. Foley asked if she was his girlfriend. "It was an odd conversation," Beck-Heyman said.

After he completed the page program, Beck-Heyman wrote thank-you notes to 10 House members. He received a reply from Foley almost immediately, suggesting that the two meet up during the Republican convention in San Diego.

More to come in Part 3 of this story and beyond, including the possible filing of formal charges against Foley and the effect of the scandal on the upcoming elections.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 at 7:22 AM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.