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Mark Foley

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Mark Foley.

Mark Adam Foley (born September 8, 1954 in Newton, Massachusetts) is an American gay politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida.

Foley resigned from Congress on September 29, 2006 as allegations surfaced that he had sent sexually explicit instant messages[1] to Congressional pages and former pages, including some who were minors.[2][3][4] As a result of the disclosures, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement opened investigations of the messages to find possible criminal charges.[5] The House Ethics Committee has also opened an investigation into the response of the House Republican leadership and their staff to earlier warnings of Foley's conduct.[6]

Early years and initial career

Foley was born in Newton, Massachusetts, where his father Edward was a police officer. His godfather is retired Boston Red Sox player Jimmy Piersall, a friend of the elder Foleys.[7] When he was three years old, his family moved to Lake Worth, Florida. Foley is a 1973 graduate of Lake Worth Community High School; he later attended Palm Beach Junior College. Foley's mother is named Fran; he has four siblings.[8]

At age 20, Foley started a family restaurant in downtown Lake Worth, The Lettuce Patch, with his mother. He later became a real estate broker [9]. He has served as chairman of Gulfstream Goodwill Industries and Palm Beach Regional Hospital. Foley also is a past president of the Central County Council of Realtors and the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce.

At the age of 23 Foley was appointed to the Lake Worth City Council] after which followed several failed bids for various political offices. [10]. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1990 and to the Florida Senate in 1992.

Foley is not married, and when asked questions by the media about his sexual orientation during his political career, he declined to answer them. As long ago as 1996, online commentators and articles in the alternative media had mentioned rumors that Foley is gay—speculation that increased in 2003 during his aborted U.S. Senate bid, when Foley called questions about his sexuality “revolting and unforgivable” but did not refute them.[11] On October 3, 2006, Foley’s attorney David Roth told reporters that Foley is, in fact, gay and that, between the ages of 13 and 15, he was sexually abused by a clergyman.[12] Newsweek reported in its October 5 edition that Foley's homosexuality was an open secret in Washington.

Foley has been in a long-term relationship with a dermatologist, Dr. Layne Nisenbaum.[13]

Congressional career

Early House career

Foley was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat John Comerford. He was re-elected in 1996 with 64 percent of the vote against Democrat Jim Stuber, and again in 1998 (this time without opposition). He was re-elected in 2000 with 60 percent of the vote against Democrat Jean Elliott and Reform Party candidate John McGuire. Constitution Party candidate Jack McLain was his only opponent in 2002. He was re-elected in 2002 with 79 percent of the vote and in 2004 with 68 percent of the vote.

Foley was a moderate Republican. He spent most of his tenure in Congress as a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

In late 2000 Foley played a large role in aiding George W. Bush during the Presidential election recount controversy in Florida.[citation needed]

In 2006 Foley was a member of the Republican House leadership, serving as deputy whip [14].

Senate campaigns

In 2003, Foley was widely considered the Republican frontrunner for Bob Graham's Senate seat, especially after Graham had announced his retirement. However, longstanding rumors surfaced that Foley was either gay or bisexual and was in a long-term relationship with a man. The story was initially published only in local and gay press;[11][15] then the New Times broke the story in the mainstream press. Other papers, including the New York Press,[16] then addressed the topic. Foley held a press conference to denounce the “revolting” rumors and stated that his sexual orientation was unimportant, but did not specifically deny the rumors. A few weeks later he withdrew his candidacy, saying his father’s battle with cancer had caused him to reassess his perspective on life (the seat was later won by Republican Mel Martinez). Foley had raised $3 million in campaign contributions before withdrawing.[17]

In 2006, as Republican division over the candidacy of Katherine Harris grew, Foley’s name was mentioned as a contender for the race against Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, but he did not file by the May deadline[citation needed].

Actions in Congress

Legislation regarding pornography and sexual offenses

In the House, Foley was one of the foremost opponents of child pornography. Foley had served as chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. He introduced a bill in 2002 to outlaw web sites featuring sexually suggestive images of preteen children, saying that “these websites are nothing more than a fix for pedophiles.” As it was written, the bill would have prohibited commercial photography of children, and it failed due to the unmanageable burden it would have presented to the legitimate entertainment industry.[18][19] In June 2003 he wrote letters to the governor and attorney general of Florida, asking them to review the legality of a program for teenagers of a Lake Como nudist resort in Land o’ Lakes, Florida.[20]

Foley’s legislation to change federal sex offender laws was supported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, and a number of victims’ rights groups. President George W. Bush signed it into law as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

Foley also succeeded in getting a law passed that allows volunteer youth-serving organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and Boys and Girls Clubs to have access to FBI fingerprint background checks to help protect children.

Social issues

Foley’s stances on many social issues, such as abortion, differ from his party’s leadership. Although a Roman Catholic, Foley is pro-choice (a member of The Republican Majority For Choice[21]), but has advocated alternatives such as adoption and abstinence. He also supports the Patriot Act, the death penalty, and strict sentencing for hate crimes.[22]

Trade and environment

In 2001, he was one of only 23 Republicans who voted against giving President Bush more authority to negotiate international trade agreements. He did offer last-minute support to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, saying that the measure, which passed the House 217-215, would not harm U.S. sugar interests in the long run.[citation needed]

Other

Foley helped secure the first-ever financial commitment from Congress for the preservation of Florida’s Everglades.[23]

Foley helped pass legislation that expedites the deportation of non-violent criminal aliens serving their sentences in federal prisons[24]; and helped eliminate federal prohibitions on notifying a campus community when a student commits a violent crime.[25]

Foley worked to pass legislation to help surviving heirs of Holocaust victims who have been unable to collect on life insurance policies owed to them.[26][27]

Congressional page scandal and resignation

Main article: Mark Foley scandal

On September 28, 2006, ABC News reported that in 2005 Foley had sent email messages from his personal AOL account to a former Congressional page, asking the page to send a photo of himself to Foley, among other things.[28] Foley’s office confirmed that Foley had sent the messages but said it has a practice of asking for photos of individuals who may ask for recommendations and that the page had requested a recommendation.

The original news report prompted another page to come forward and on September 29, 2006, ABC News reported that it had seen excerpts of sexually explicit instant messages allegedly sent by Foley.[29] The instant messages made repeated references to sexual organs and acts. After being approached by reporters with this new information, Foley submitted a letter of resignation from Congress on September 29, 2006. [30] Foley said in a 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.” [31]

Kirk Fordham, Chief of Staff to Tom Reynolds and former Chief of Staff to Foley, said that he was with Foley when ABC confronted him with the explicit IMs before they were publicized.[32] According to Newsweek, Foley "knew he was finished." Fordham then visited GOP headquarters to inform Hastert and Reynolds; he returned with a one-sentence resignation letter that Foley signed.[33] Hastert later said in an October 2 press conference that he would have demanded Foley's expulsion from the House had he tried to stay in office. [34]

The revelations have prompted even more pages to come forward, alleging a history of inappropriate conduct by Foley dating back at least ten years. Foley had been warned about the matter in 2005 by another House Republican and the House Clerk. Through his lawyer, Foley insisted he was not a pedophile and had never had sexual contact with any minor. He explained that he had a secret alcohol problem and had made the communications while intoxicated. He checked himself into a rehab clinic on October 2, 2006.[35] His lawyer also revealed that Foley was molested by a clergyman when he was between the ages of 13 and 15 adding that “Mark Foley wants you to know he is a gay man.” [36] Federal authorities said the explicit messages could result in Foley’s prosecution, under some of the same laws he helped to enact.[37]

The scandal provoked widespread criticism of Republican leaders for their allegedly insufficient response to earlier warnings and inconsistencies in their statements. In particular, many called for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign, including some conservative voices such as the editorial page of the Washington Times. [38]

November 2006 election

Shortly after Foley resigned, the Florida Republican Party named State Representative Joe Negron to run as the Republican replacement candidate in Foley’s district.[39] He will face Democrat Tim Mahoney in the November general election, but in accordance with Florida election law, Foley’s name will remain on the ballot. [40] Any votes cast for Foley in the November election will be counted towards Negron’s total.[41] Mahoney has called for a full investigation of Foley’s actions.[42] Foley's district has been held by Republicans since its creation in 1973 (it was the 10th District until 1983 and the 12th District until 1993).

Involvement with the Church of Scientology

On May 24, 2003 a special dinner was held to honor Mark Foley at the Fort Harrison Hotel, the main accommodations building of the Flag Land Base of the Church of Scientology. [43] Foley received leatherbound copies of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and The Way to Happiness as gifts from the Church.

In 2001 or 2002, Foley was seen at a celebrity celebration at the Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles, California.[44]

After the Foley scandal became public, on October 5, 2006 the Church of Scientology removed the article boasting of their patronizing Foley from its website.[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Three More Former Pages Accuse Foley of Online Sexual Approaches". ABC News. October 5, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-05.
  2. ^ http://www.newsok.com/article/2951137/
  3. ^ "Florida Republican Foley Resigns From U.S. House Seat". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  4. ^ ABC News.com
  5. ^ Palm Beach Post
  6. ^ "Hastert Aides Interest Ethics Panel: Staff Members' Knowledge of Foley's Actions With Former Pages in Question". Washington Post. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2006-10-12.
  7. ^ "Famous godfather remained favorite subject for Foley", The Boston Globe, October 5, 2006.
  8. ^ "Scandal devastates Foley's loyal, supportive sister", Sun-Sentinel, October 6, 2006.
  9. ^ Larry Wheeler, “Congressman resigns: Foley quits as e-mails to boy raise questions”, News-Press, September 29, 2006
  10. ^ Susan Ferrechio, “Republican Rep. Foley Resigns, Drops Re-election Bid in Fla. 16” CQPolitics.com, September 29, 2006, accessed September 29, 2006
  11. ^ a b “Being gay in the GOP: Congressman Mark Foley: A model of political hypocrisy and personal cowardice”, Boston Phoenix, May 30, 2003
  12. ^ ABC News.com
  13. ^ Palm Beach Post
  14. ^ "Foley as Whip". yahoo.com. Summer 2004. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  15. ^ Mark Meenan, “Is He Gay or Not? U.S. Rep. Mark Foley calls press to say he won’t talk about his sexual orientation”, Gay City News, May 30, 2003
  16. ^ Michelangelo Signorile, “Liberace Candidate: Mark Foley’s glass closet”, New York Press, May 28, 2003
  17. ^ 2004 “Outed Hill staffer condemns campaign: Mikulski and Foley become newest congressional targets as FMA vote nears”, Washington Blade (District of Columbia), July 9, 2004
  18. ^ Declan McCullagh, “Too Broad a Ban on Child Models?”, Wired News, May 9, 2002
  19. ^ Thorne, Samuel (Summer 2004). "Webe Web Fashion Models (A Cultural Analysis of Preteen Models at CSM Child Super Models)". CR Student.com. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
  20. ^ James Thorner, “Nude summer youth camps alarm lawmaker”, St. Petersbug Times (Florida), June 19, 2003
  21. ^ "About Us". GopChoice. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  22. ^ "Foley, Mark". ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  23. ^ "Arthur R. Marshall Foundation - board of directors". Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  24. ^ "THOMAS (Library of Congress - H.R.668 (H.AMDT.142))". Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  25. ^ "THOMAS (Library of Congress - H.AMDT.603 ammending H.R. 6)". Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  26. ^ "Congress Introduces Legislation To Address Unresolved Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims". United Jewish Communities. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  27. ^ "BANKING COMMITTEE PASSES FOLEY AMENDMENT TO HELP HOLOCAUST VICTIMS RECOVER LOSSES". Congressman Mark Foley. 1998-06-04. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  28. ^ "Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman". ABC News. September 28, 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |retrieved= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Ross, Brian (2006-09-29). "Foley To Resign Over Sexually Explicit Messages to Minors". ABC News The Blotter. Retrieved 2006-09-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ “Congressman resigns after e-mails questioned”
  31. ^ "Florida congressman quits following disclosure of e-mails to male page". USA Today. September 29, 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "Onetime Loyal Aide Now Stands to Undermine GOP". Los Angeles Times. 2006-10-7. Retrieved 2006-10-7. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  33. ^ "How Foley Scandal Could Cost Bush Congress". October 9, 2006 publisher=Newsweek. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "Comments from Speaker Dennis Hastert on Congressman Mark Foley Matter". October 2, 2006 publisher=Office of the Speaker of the House. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Sixteen-Year-Old Who Worked as Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman". Associated Press . September 29, 2006. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |retrieved= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "Foley lawyer makes statement". CNN. October 2, 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |retrieved= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Ross, Brian (September 29, 2006). "Exclusive: The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation". {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "Resign, Mr. Speaker". Washington Times. 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  39. ^ Caputo, Marc and Long, Phil, "GOP taps Negron to run for Foley's seat". Miami Herald. October 2, 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Florida election code Section 100.111(4)(a)
  41. ^ “Florida Republican Foley resigns from U.S. House Seat”, Bloomberg, September 29, 2006
  42. ^ Smith, Adam (September 28, 2006). "Candidate wants investigation in e-mail exchange". St Petersburg Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |retrieved= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ Cached webpage from Flag Service Org website showing Mark Foley accepting awards at special dinner along with Mary Story of the Office of Special Affairs
  44. ^ Garcia, Wayne Mark Foley and Scientology: A personal encounter
  45. ^ Bercovici, Jeff Scientology scrubs Foley from its site
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Preceded by United States Representative for the 16th Congressional District of Florida
1995–2006 		Succeeded by
Seat vacant

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