…and it’s his own staff. Yes, while ol’ Denny would have us believe that he only recently found out about Foley’s “activities”, it seems his staff disagrees.
The staffer, who asked not be identified because of the ongoing FBI and House Ethics Committee investigations, told ABC News of learning in November 2005 about an earlier meeting between Hastert Chief of Staff Scott Palmer and Foley, R-Fla.
…
“At that time, I became aware that there was a previous meeting” between Foley and Palmer, the House staffer told ABC News.
That seems to corroborate the account of Kirk Fordham, Foley’s former chief of staff, who said he had gone to Palmer to ask the speaker’s office’s to intervene and try to change Foley’s behavior as far back as 2003.
Whoops-a-daisy. And of course, Hastert is doing the ol’ “I won’t comment on an ongoing investigation” stonewalling that the White House was so fond of, leading to those 485 Abramoff contacts being dug up.
Much as they want the Dems to get pulled in, and much as Hastert is trying to blame Soros, Clinton, the Miami Herald, and anyone else who prefers the color blue, it seems he’s going to be the one that goes down for it. The question is just how long he’ll last.
Legally, Foley is guilty of solicitation of a minor, however many counts, and Hastert is guilty of aiding and abetting after the fact. They both belong behind bars.