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
I was shocked when it led off the news tonight. I had to go back and watch the replay because they did say that Jones had been contacted by the FBI and the House Ethics group which I found strange.
I think they're all in this and tied to Rogers as well. There are more, I'm sure.
The media being careful ??
Have you not read some of their articles and headlines and pictures on other stories??
I have know PhiKapMom since 2000, and I've never heard of you. You did read the top of the thread didn't you? This is being reported in the Oklahoma media.
LOL
and "Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner"
over and over and over.....(just teasing. GO POKES)!! Ride em!
I am probably going to get in trouble for posting all of this with some Republican types as it is because it wouldn't take a genius to figure out who I am as I have been vocal in the fact that the Istook staff doesn't seem to have a clue what to do.
Gaygate.
I think you are right that he is probably a target of a criminal investigation. Only thing that makes sense.
soros!
LLS
Somebody needs to make a chart...
I am sure Foley knows who he IMed.....that would be an interesting turn of events.
Beauty rest bookmark, this is soooooo good.
I remember when it was announced he was going to be the campaign manager, I tried to find out who he was. Several people called D.C. trying to find out about him because it made no sense to hire an unknown not from Oklahoma.
Trust me, this whole campaign of Istook's has been strange and totally disorganized. The latest excuse is that their printer never has any ink and that's why they cannot print anything on time.
They went to Stillwater for a game on Saturday and there was no game. I cracked up when I heard that one. I long ago figured we would be having Brad Henry for four more years when Istook couldn't move in the polls. During the primary his campaign did a phoney poll and published it everywhere.
Thanks PhiKapMom eye opener.
Bookmark
This College kid, has he got a nckname yet????
DEEP THROAT?
Brian Ross got his wish, he unvield the next DEEP THROAT!
LOL!!!!!!
He must be guilty of something. Can't imagine him hiring a big defense attorney just for a guilty conscience.
I am not exactly anonymous. A lot of people on here know who I am. Everything I have posted about this kid can be verified by any number of folks that know the campaign and the kid.
I see them more as soldiers in another Soros battle to provoke a "velvet revolution."
My gracious, isn't this getting interesting? BTT.
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