Pointing out the legality, or should I say lack of illegality of the events has absolutely nothing to do with condoning or excusing the disgusting, unethical and immoral behavior of Foley. It has only to do with exposing the disgusting, unethical behavior of the RATS.
NO one has done excused any behavior of Foley's nor overlooked it. In spite of the cries of some people that it has been done, there is no evidence to support any overlooking of Foley's culpability.
I have read most of these threads, but if you can point to a single post where this 'short sighted' behavior you are referring to actually occurred, I would appreciate it.
If you can't do that, stop claiming that it has.
The following FACTS need to be accepted by all people who wish to discuss this story:
1. Foley was wrong and should have resigned. In fact, he was dishonest and should have retired 2 years ago, at least.
2. Communications were with EX-pages who had gone back to their home towns.
3. Hastert only knew about the innocuous e-mails, and not the lewd IM's.
4. e-mails and IM's are DIFFERENT.
5. There is no law against being a homosexual. It is sinful but not illegal.
6. The ex-page who received the e-mail is a different person from the person who received the lewd IM's.
6. As of now, with the exception of Tyson Vivyan who has no proof, all communications were with young men who were over 16, and the lewd stuff was with someone over 18. They are NOT little kids, and although repellant, Foley is not a pedophile, which definition includes an attraction to PRE-adolescent boys.
People who misstate these FACTS are either too obtuse to discuss this issue or are deliberately trying to stir up dissension.