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
The idea that these people can make any past history a public one. . .make any allegation that in turn impacts not only the perp (fine. . .) but everyone that person has had contact with; not to mentin change an election that impacts a world of futures'. . .and still, expect to remain anonymous. . .is rediculoous.
And those that inititated, instigated. . .facilatated such. . .should not expect anonymity either.
Sorry it took so long to reply back. I am now at my daughter's in FL having driven down from Norman Sat/Sun for the birth of my first granddaughter yesterday and my first chance to get on the computer was tonight. Arrived 20 minutes after she was born.
Istook has the worst run campaign ever and it is beginning to look deliberate because I cannot fathom someone running that louzy of campaign.
There is no way they deserve to remain anonymous. I am with you 100%. This kid was a spoiled, arrogant individual who thought he was better then everyone around him. Still cannot figure out why he hired this group. Makes no sense to this day.
I think running in a Baptist state with his being Mormon is hurting his chances especially after it has become knowledge of his part in covering up pedofile cases in OK in the early 90's for the church. DemoOkie had it on their site but it was pretty common knowledge before that if my email is any indication.
You are correct and he never forgave the OK GOP for not getting behind him all the way including with money to beat Boren. He was never going to win that race IMHO but in his own mind he was unbeatable.
Someone said that Istook and Jones went to law school together but I have never checked it out.
Roads and bridges that are in deploreable condition and education that isn't much better in a lot of locations around the state. Those two issues are ones that people in the State want to hear a solution, and we are hearing none. Istook has a problem because he took money that was destined for OK for light rail transportion and shipped it off to Mitt Romney for light rail from Ogden to Salt Lake City for the Olympics.
What topic does he pick to go after Henry? Immigration which Henry turned right back at him as a federal issue and said he has been in Congress for almost 12 years and done nothing to help.
His radio ad makes Oklahomans sound like they are hicks. Irritating as can be.
I know Istook must be running a very weak campaign if you are that discouraged in that you give Republicans ever benefit of the doubt. Actually, I have seen Istook (not lately) on C-SPAN, and he seemed knowledgeable and articulate. He must have run into the Largent factor with his race too. Maybe congressmen should not get into governor's races so quickly without seeing the potential consequences.
Think it is broader. . .more damning. . .it was a political missile launched as an 'October Surpirse' against the entire Repub Party; forty-five days, before election.
. . .launched by Demrats/ paid for by George Soros. . .with the express aim of having the Dems win back the 'power' they covet so desperately; but cannot win honestly on any merit whatsoever.
I am amazed on the one hand; only if by wondering; if the Dems had joined us in the WOT; rather than iniitiating their own 'WOB'. . .(war on Bush) - now a WOR - where might our standing and that of good Iraqui's be; re our efforts to liberate Iraq and eliminate the real enemy. . .
And an easy sell to our spineless Republicans on Washington. . .and supposedly to the rest of red America; who, according to Demrat spinmeisters; can understand 'scandal' when they see it; vs the more complex issues of the day. . .
The Demrats do not even realize the truth they betray in this 'nutshell' of a Demrat talking point. .
I just wish some moderator would nail them on it. . .
The designated MO of this political plotl is made clear, everytime they cast their future on the 'simplicity' of scandal. . .
I am wondering where he ties in as well along with Englander and Wilson from his campaign. I heard he is back in OK to talk to the FBI. Also heard he received a call from the FBI, five minutes later hired Jones, and then immediately left Oklahoma. It really smells!
There is more behind his getting in the race. He made some major blunders in the House, lost his subcommittee chairmanship and was encouraged to run for Governor.
Up until a year ago, I would have told you that he was very knowledgeable but all that knowledge seems lost in that campaign. I have never seen anything like it. I didn't give him a chance last spring but it is much worse now.
You will have freep mail shortly! I am using my daughter's laptop and it takes for me to type but you will get some background.
The Demrat homeground is a poop pile. . .and yes. . .smells, big time. I can only wonder why there are no leaks here as to what is going around. ..and down. . .
Are Repubs so clueless that they are not able to offer, even a few. ..political insights?
Jordan: "I did not have sex with thatCongressman"--
On Wednesday, agents interviewed former page Jordan Edmund, now 21.
CBS News has learned that Edmund told the FBI he had limited contact with Foley as a page in 2001 and 2002, but that after Edmund left the page program Foley began e-mailing him.
They met in person twice, including for dinner in San Diego in 2002. They went to Foley's hotel room but Edmund told agents he left after about 20 minutes and nothing untoward happened, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.
WOW! I wouldn't believe that guy if he told me the sky was blue -- I would go check! :)
Neither would I. He sounds like a real hustler.
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