Re: Key aide heard in US e-mail row

[G. Morgan <alarmpro@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:24:24 -0400, "Robert L Bass"
<robertbass1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>Key aide heard in US e-mail row
>
>      Mr Trandahl says he confronted Mr Foley about the matter in 2005
>A key witness in a US congressional inquiry over an explicit e-mail scandal has testified before the House of Representatives ethics
>committee.
>The scandal began after revelations that ex-Republican congressman Mark Foley had sent lurid e-mails to pages - young male staff on
>work experience.
>
>The latest testimony came from ex-House Clerk Jeff Trandahl, a former pages' boss. He testified behind closed door.
>
>He was expected to be grilled about how the Republicans dealt with the issue.
>
>
>      The row is dominating politics ahead of mid-term elections
>
>At issue in the investigation - now in its second week - is also how House Republican leader Dennis Hastert's office dealt with the
>knowledge that Mr Foley was sending lurid e-mails.
>
>Mr Foley resigned over the scandal. He has said he is gay but denies any sexual contact with pages.
>
>In a further twist, a Roman Catholic priest admitted having an inappropriate relationship with Mr Foley 40 years ago.
>
>Recent polls suggest that the majority of Americans are unhappy with how senior Republicans handled the page scandal, the BBC's Nick
>Miles in Washington says.
>
>That could have an impact on the Congressional mid-term elections in November, our correspondent says.
>
>Aide denials
>
>Mr Foley resigned on 29 September after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to House high school students appointed to help
>with administrative work.
>
>
>      House leader Dennis Hastert has received backing from the president
>
>The youngest recipient of the suggestive e-mails is said to have been 16 years old.
>
>Mr Hastert says he first became aware of Mr Foley's actions just before his resignation.
>
>But a former advisor to Mr Foley says he reported concerns about his contacts with pages to Mr Hastert's chief-of-staff several
>years ago.
>
>The chief-of-staff, Scott Palmer, has denied the claims.
>
>Mr Hastert, who earlier this month rejected calls for his resignation over his handling of the case, has said he will sack any
>member of his staff who may have covered up the e-mail scandal.
>
>The ethics committee, on which there are five Democrats and five Republicans, will examine who became aware of the allegations and
>when, although it has no jurisdiction over Mr Foley.
>
>Committee chairman Doc Hastings said he hoped to finish the inquiry "in weeks", but it is unclear whether it will be complete before
>the 7 November mid-term polls.
>
>
--

-Graham
(remove the double e's to email)