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
Yep. The FBI is looking at it all. Who was involved in this scam and why? It certainly wasn't done by or for the benefit of the Republicans. That puts the left wing in charge of it. What did they know and when did they know it, and what role did they play in it?
That was exactly what I thought immediately, too - even though I'm a half-day late in saying it.
"I sure wish I knew who cut the check for this guy's retainer."
If I had three guesses, I would guess:
1. Soros
2. Soros
3. Soros
He needs a lawyer to defend him. He needs an expensive lawyer to defend him. He's definitely done something MAJORLY wrong here. This is getting interesting, isn't it?
I'd swear they were scheduled.
O'Reilly mentioned the Soros connection on his show last night. Today, FOX Live was mentioning it. I think this D.C. homosexual pimple is slowly coming to a head.
Don't forget.....Soros.
I agree with you. Hastert was going to push the fair tax. http://newsmine.org/archive/cabal-elite/irs/hastert-hints-of-bush-plan-to-end-income-tax-2nd-term.txt From the article, "House Republicans will have hearings and push the issue in 2005 and 2006"
Today we find out the democrats "16 year old child" was really an 18 year old man at the time if the IM's and the affair was between two consenting homosexual adults. It just keeps getting better and better.
Hang on Hastert. The retribution is on it's way!
He gave the impression that it was just a huge party atmosphere with lots of underage drinking with the lobbyists picking up the tab.
Of course, with him being young and easily impressed, he assumed that the reason they didn't ask for his ID is because he "looked" so mature. LOL
Has this been posted already?
http://www.blogactive.com/
Please Help....
As you can imagine, I am overwhelmed. Sean Hannity used me as a punching bag all afternoon, World Net Daily and Free Republic have posted articles full of lies.
more at url...
LOL....seem we need a little "organization chart" of this whole mess.....
I am just getting back on the thread as I have been on the phone most of the morning. General concensus of everyone I have talked with is that the kid is arrogant and would do anything to advance his career. He is no naive person and never was. Everyone that was around him had and same opinion and we are all shocked he was only 21.
I still want to know why the Istook campaign hired him and Englander -- made no sense at the time and still doesn't.
Hmmmm...that's interesting.
I am amazed too that the MSM ignores the fact this kid was of age and if they met him, they would see in two seconds he is NO naive kid.
Jones does not come cheap is right! I had to listen to the Channel 9 replay because I thought they said Jones had already been contacted by the FBI and the House Ethics Committee and it is exactly what they said.
FBI is moving very fast on this one!
Been asking that for months and never have received an answer. I think it is the worst campaign I have ever witnessed. There is no traction -- nothing. Makes absolutely zero sense. I am so glad others from here are seeing the same thing. Everyone I have talked with on the phone this morning is saying the same thing.
Englander is Istook's campaign manager who brought Jordan with him. Doesn't understand Oklahoma at all and people don't like working around that group. I know a group of young people that quit and went to other campaigns after the San Diego group took over.
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