[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

I'm sure you've received dozens of replies since you posted early on a lengthy thread.

The reason could be that the GOP decided the political capital expended on defending this situation would take a lot of time and attention away from their campaign issues (WOT, national defense, etc.).

Also, when all is said and done, they would be defending someone who still did something very stupid. Never, NEVER give anyone anything to use against you when you are in the political arena.

[Enchante]

"Also, when all is said and done, they would be defending someone who still did something very stupid. Never, NEVER give anyone anything to use against you when you are in the political arena."

Even if Edmond regarded the IMs as a "prank" they were meant seriously by Foley (IF it turns out that Foley actually wrote them). An old rule of politics that I heard many years ago is "never write down anything that you would not want to see on the front page of a newspaper"...... so if Foley did engage in such messaging he is guilty of terminal stupidity as well as being a lustful old has-been chasing after 18 y.o. tail.....