Congressman resigns after former page questions e-mails
POSTED: 4:22 p.m. EDT, September 29, 2006
From CNN's Dana Bash
CNN Washington Bureau
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican from Florida, resigned Friday from the House, a day after a former congressional page questioned e-mails Foley had sent to him.
Foley apparently sent the e-mails in August 2005, when the male page was 16 years old.
"Today I have delivered a letter to the speaker of the House informing him of my decision to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, effective today. I thank the people of Florida's 16th Congressional District for giving me the opportunity to serve them for the last twelve years; it has been an honor," Foley said in a written statement.
"I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent."
According to ABC News, the young man who received the e-mails called them "sick, sick, sick."
A spokesman for Foley told CNN the congressman acknowledged he had an e-mail exchange with the former page but flatly denied that it was anything inappropriate.
According to GOP sources, Foley is concerned there may be other potential politically damaging e-mails or information out there and has concluded it's best not to run again for office.
Foley, who is considered a moderate, has been in office for six-terms.
His Democratic opponent in the race, Tim Mahoney, called for an investigation into the matter Thursday. Mahoney's campaign denied having anything to do with the information getting out.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/29/congressman.e.mails/index.htmlFoley was also the co-chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children Caucus.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl16_foley/072106senatesopass.html
