I'm not sure how age of consent laws factor into a case that involves emails that might have crossed state lines, but the age of consent in DC is 16--the age of the youngest page Foley turned his attention to. If it turns out to just involve DC jurisdiction then it really is no different than the Lewinsky fiasco. Maybe the House leadership knows this and in calling for an immediate investigation they want the parallel to come out quickly and more fully highlight the hypocrisy of the Democrats.
The situation is horrible, but I think it's being handled as best that it can be by the Republicans. Thank goodness Foley immediately resigned and is not trying to cling to office and drag the party down further with him. And thank goodness the leadership isn't hesitating on what to do.
"it really is no different than the Lewinsky fiasco"
Except that, based on information disclosed thus far, Foley did not suborn perjury or lie under oath to a grand jury.