Papers Knew of Foley E-Mail but Did Not Publish Stories

New York Times ^ | 10/3/06 | ANNE E. KORNBLUT and KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[conservative in nyc]

At least two news organizations were tipped off to e-mail messages sent by Representative Mark Foley long before the story of his sexually explicit remarks to teenage pages broke last week and forced him to resign.

--Snip--

Brian Ross of ABC News said he learned about the e-mail messages in August but was too busy with Hurricane Katrina and the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks to pursue them immediately. None of the organizations seemed to anticipate how big the story would become.

---Snip---

Then, in June, the reports resurfaced on Capitol Hill, where a neighborhood resident struck up a conversation in a bar with someone who had provided the e-mail messages. He said he passed them on to several news outlets. The resident, who said he was not affiliated with either party and was motivated by concern for the teenager, would talk only on condition of anonymity.

No one acted on the information until last week, and even then, it was a Web site that first posted the exchange. It is not clear who maintains the Weblog, stopsexpredators.blogspot.com, which appears to be largely devoted to the Foley scandal.

ABC News had its first account several days later on its Web site.

Mr. Ross said he was surprised by how quickly the congressman’s office confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail messages, first when ABC reported them on Sept. 28, and again a day later when confronted with much more explicit exchanges.

Mr. Ross dismissed suggestions by some Republicans that the news was disseminated as part of a smear campaign against Mr. Foley.

“I hate to give up sources, but to the extent that I know the political parties of any of the people who helped us, it would be the same party,” Mr. Ross said, referring to Republicans.

[conservative in nyc]

I had to cut and paste the article due to the 300 word limit. Most of the rest of the article discusses why the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald didn't run the story when they first heard of it last year: Not enough evidence and the page didn't want to go on record.

The rumors started resurfacing in June. Did Democrats in the House not hear of it then? The left-wing CREW group now claims it refered the e-mails to the Justice Department in July.

[conservative in nyc]

Ping.

[originalbuckeye]

Why would they talk about this last summer when they could wait until fall and have it interfere more with the election?

[kcvl]

Thanks!

[Greenpees]

The Demoncrats endangered teenage boys for months in order to pop the news closer to the election. They disgust everyone. The story should be told, but it will never see the light of day.

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the ping. Go check your mail from me and make sure you read every one I sent tonight. I have contacted American Thinker and am contacting the FBI in the morning. Maybe tonight...if I can find the tip line they spoke of today.
Honestly..I have stumbled onto a potentially explosive link in this chain and am actually shaking with a bit of fear.

Folks, I hope you understand why I can not post it all yet on the board.

[George W. Bush]

So they knew of the non-story with former pages, who were over the age of consent?

The media is trying hard to drive a Foley wedge between the GOP and the social conservatives. It's obvious how much they want this.

Ain't gonna happen. It might actually get people mad enough to turn out in larger numbers to vote GOP. It's insulting to think they believe we're stupid enough to fall for their 'scandal'.

[ClaireSolt]

How long has it been a bedrock civil right to face one's accuser? Where is the crime? the victim?

[Just mythoughts]

"Then, in June, the reports resurfaced on Capitol Hill, where a neighborhood resident struck up a conversation in a bar with someone who had provided the e-mail messages. He said he passed them on to several news outlets. The resident, who said he was not affiliated with either party and was motivated by concern for the teenager, would talk only on condition of anonymity."

Oh please they have got to come up with something better than this, at least the name of the 'bar', might give a hint about party affiliation.

[Prost1]

The DoJ needs to supeonea reports and editors right and left.

Pull Bill Keller in as a start. NIE..."what do you know and when did you know it?" Waterboard time!

Same with these cretins holding back on Foley. It was clear to me he was a $3 bill, but child predator? Maybe a member of Nambla? Buddies with Barney Frank? Who else?

Arrest, interogate, waterboard...Get the info!

[Hong Kong Expat]

Good, we should the Republicans should take back congress and install our leadership to watch over congress.

[jimbo123]

ABC's Ross in under investigation by the FBI for his role in the CIA leaks case.

His phone calls to and from CIA leakers have been collected as evidence in the case.

So this is just sour grapes.

Ross is afraid of prison and is trying to say that his upcoming indictment is going to be retribution by the GOP.

[Marak]

Please ping me when you can post it.

[Mo1]

Then, in June, the reports resurfaced on Capitol Hill, where a neighborhood resident struck up a conversation in a bar with someone who had provided the e-mail messages. He said he passed them on to several news outlets. The resident, who said he was not affiliated with either party and was motivated by concern for the teenager, would talk only on condition of anonymity.

Just happened to hand over IM's in a bar???

And who was this person

[conservative in nyc]

Just happened to hand over IM's in a bar???

And who was this person?

The creepy e-mails, not the IMs. Washington D.C. is a very weird place.

[penelopesire]

will do. NOW can anybody find the tipline that Haster et al talked about? That would help ALOT!! I have looked everywhere and can not find it.

[NutCrackerBoy]

The New York Times is cleverly getting out ahead of the alternative media, preparing the ground. When alternative media exposes smoking guns on how the story was finely orchestrated as an election year HIT, they will be falsely represented as accusing Dems of "framing" Foley.

[Dianna]

Just happened to hand over IM's in a bar???

No, I don't think that is what the article is saying. I read it as a local guy goes into a bar and chats with a person who talks about Foley and e-mails and says he (the person local guy is talking to) disseminated the e-mails to reporters.

This may be an Alexander staffer (or former Alexander staffer) who Mort mentioned on Brit's show as being the source of e-mails getting to reporters.

[penelopesire]

check your mail..

[Freedom is eternally right]

Don't think it is set up yet. From an AP story:

They said they are creating a toll-free hot line for pages and their families to call to confidentially report any incidents, and will consider adopting new rules on communications between lawmakers and pages.