[PghBaldy]

The age of consent for sex was 16. There are no ex-post facto laws in the US (at least there shouldn't be). If the federal law which prevents such activity (explicit IMing a minor) came after the explicit IMs, there is no case against Foley in federal law, IMO. Doesn't make it right, or moral. Just probably not illegal.

[conservative in nyc]

Everyone keeps citing some federal law preventing explicit IMing of a minor supposedly sponsored by Foley. I can't find it, and nobody else has been able to provide a link thus far.

The age of consent varies by state. In Florida, it is generally 18. In D.C., it is 16. Under some federal laws, it is 18. Under other federal laws, it is 16.

It is clear that any sexually explicit IMing of a consenting person 18 or older isn't a crime. It is not clear that sexually explicit IMing of a consenting person under 18 is not a crime, depending on the state the person IMing is in and whether federal or state law applies.