Let not your heart be troubled.
Posted on 10/04/2006 8:39:44 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
A former U.S. House page working on the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Rep. Ernest Istook may be a part of the scandal involving former Congressman Mark Foley, The Oklahoman has learned.
The former page, a Californian named Jordan Edmund, on Wednesday hired Enid attorney Stephen Jones to represent him, the attorney confirmed.
Jones would not say exactly why he was hired, but did say, “I understand the FBI and the House Ethics committee have an interest in the matter ... the allegations concerning Congressman Foley which have surfaced.”
Foley, a Republican from Florida, resigned abruptly on Friday after it was learned that he exchanged sexually explicit e-mails with former pages. The FBI is investigating.
Istook’s campaign manager, Chip Englander, who is also from California, declined comment Wednesday to an Oklahoman reporter.
However, Englander gave The Oklahoman a statement that was attributed to Istook.
The statement says, “The sad and sick behavior of Mark Foley was a total surprise to me when it was revealed. Law enforcement is doing its job, and I support that effort. Now we should all support and protect the victims, and they should not be hounded by the press.
“It was a complete surprise to learn this morning that one victim may be someone I know. Each one of the victims deserves their privacy. To every reporter I request, please have the decency to avoid making things worse for the victims, and just leave them alone. This happened years ago when the victims were minors.”
Reached at his home, Istook referred to the prepared statement.
Edmund’s name surfaced on Internet “blogs” that linked him to the instant message address used in communications with Foley.
One blogger got the instant message address from the Web site of ABC News, which has obtained the instant messages sent between Foley and a former page.
In the sequence of messages identified by the blogger, Foley tells the person to “strip down and get relaxed.”
It is not clear whether Foley’s other instant messages, including one in which he apparently conducted “instant message” sex with a person, were all to the same person.
Asked why Edmund needed an attorney, Jones said, “You read the blogs. You know why he needs an attorney.”
Jones, who represented Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in his murder trial in Denver, confirmed Edmund was a U.S. House page.
“I’ve been retained in the last several hours,” Jones said. “I’m still reviewing matters.”
Jones said the two met Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Edmund had an Internet page on the popular MySpace Web site.
On that page, he identified himself as being 21 years old and said he had been attending college at the University of California at Berkeley. He said he was going to Oklahoma to be deputy campaign manager for Istook’s gubernatorial effort, the Web site stated.
Edmund registered to vote in Oklahoma in March, records show.
The House Ethics Committee is scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting this morning about the Foley matter.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, one of the 10 members of the committee, flew back to Washington on Wednesday for what he called an “emergency meeting.”
He said the committee today would not hear from witnesses but would set the parameters of the investigation.
Contributing: Staff Writers Joe Wertz, Bryan Dean, Jennifer Mock and Ryan McNeill
Copyright 2006
From Lawyer Jones' website:
Stephen Jones and his team of litigators, experts and support staff will take on anybody. They have no fear. As managing partner of the law firm of Jones, Otjen, Davis Mr. Jones focuses on complex matters involving Income Tax Fraud Defense, National Security Law, and White-Collar Crime Charges including RICO, stock fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, wiretapping and conspiracy. He also works extensively with clients who are facing government bias or discrimination.
http://www.stephenjoneslaw.com/
Every ten years? I'm for sterilization, unless it's someone like Zell Miller!
Let not your heart be troubled.
It's common for gay circles to snag each other jobs.
My Congressman flew back to D.C. today for the meeting. That on the heels of hearing there was more people going to be investigated.
Every friggin' dime is from soros!!!
LLS
Exactly!
placemarker.....this is getting WILD.
Cunningham sponsored Edmunds as a page.
I was shocked to find out he was only 21, because he acts much older.
They will have a hard time doing that concidering this involves the pages
They will have a hard time explaining this in the press .. and that includes dems and well as pubbies
LOL...you can say that again...I've read some real doozies here!
This is going to get VERY interesting
Amen.
That's spelling it out perfectly.
I have been scratching my head for months why they hired this young twerp. Never made any sense and still doesn't.
Stephen Jones is a defense attorney and I wouldn't think would be part of suing ABC.
We'll see.....
Someone put forth the theory (can't recall which thread I read it on) that turning over IM's may be akin to recording a phone call without the consent of both parties. Perhaps this former page was sued by Foley today?
I would agree with that 100% and my Congressman is a good friend of Hastert and an acquaintance of Istook is probably a good way to phrase it.
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