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
Get back to me when you grow up
The average citizen doesn't know Pelosi. He doesn't know who the Speaker is now. HE just knows he wants to vote "Democrat" to "clean house." He doesn't understand that the Democrat house is tainted.
That news conference was something, wasn't it? I bet it was the same one I saw on KOTV Channel 6, (if you were watching 9...I believe they are "sister stations".)
When Istook blamed the blogger for outting "an innocent victim", it just really irritated us (my husband and I). We thought the blogger did a real good job of making the point quickly that this was no innocent victim.
Jordan Edmund taped Sullivan? That just seems like such a Dem thingy.
No, you misunderstood. The kid had a BMW but couldn't drive it because he had no license. What he had was a driver with a Mercedes that chauferred him to the bars and back.
If you want to archive the contents of this blog before it disappears, better do it now. The same applies to Macsmind and others that have done reporting on this. After they all get cease-and-desist letters and are forced to pull their content, Google and the other search engines will be scrubbed as well.
I got this email yesterday:Dear William Kerr and Passionate America:So I have contacted some of the people I have met in the past few days for advice. My view on this is I have already published the story many people have put this on their websites also. Much of the main stream media has put the story out. The cat is out of the bag. Is Stephen Jones going to send these emails out to thousands of people? I believe I have done nothing wrong legally, until I hear different from people smarter than me I am going to treat this as a threat and leave everything on the website. I could use your help; do you know anyone that can help me? Send me an email."
Please be advised that I represent Jordan Edmund. It is our understanding that you and Passionate American are identifying Mr. Edmund with certain Instant Messages ("IMs"). You have indicated that ABC News mistakenly published these alleged Ims and that you should not have been able to obtain this information. Whether this is true or not is beside the point. Without any foundation or legal permission, you are stating that our client is the person associated with the Ims. Neither ABC News nor Brian Ross have been error free in their reporting in the past. You should not assume that they are correct now. Like all individuals and institutions, they occasionally make mistakes. Therefore, I respectfully demand that you cease any further efforts to identify our client with these alleged Ims and cease publishing such information on Passionate America. Neither you nor Passionate American is authorized to use any photograph of him, his name or his personal information. You should consult with an attorney who is experienced in civil and criminal liability regarding the internet. If you are correct that ABC News should not have released the alleged AOL screen name and that ABC News has risked civil and criminal liability because of the unauthorized release, then your republication of the unauthorized release likewise exposes you to possible liability.
Sincerely,
Stephen Jones JONES, OTJEN, DAVIS, NIXON & JUHL 114 E. Broadway, Suite 1100 P.O. Box 472 Enid, Oklahoma 73702 (580) 242-5500 (580) 242-4556 (fax) sjones@stephenjoneslaw.com
That is what I thought as well! I couldn't believe it when it happened!
That was my reaction as well!
Do you think that Jordan Edmund is a conservative, straight Republican like his friend said yesterday????
I am beginning to wonder the same thing. It is just weird!
Since when do lawyers use email for their official cease-anddesist correspondence?
Could he be deliberately throwing his own election?
He is no conservative! Straight - I have no idea!
I don't think Istook is being blackmailed...I think he thought Chris Wilson was a friend and went with his recomendation of Chip Englander, 25, ....for who Wilson said was one of the best campaign managers, yet today he couldn't name ONE campaign he worked on!! Wilson has PUNKED Istook!!
Sounds like Istook isn't too bright.
I think Istook is a good Christian man that sees the good in people....unlike myself!!
I know that Istook is a likely loser. Is his Mormonism a factor, do you think?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jones once run as the Republican candidate against Senator Boren because no other Republican had the gall to step forward and run a certain-loser campaign?
What issues (2 or 3) can Istook use against Henry? Why isn't he using them?
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