Istook aide may be victim in page scandal ("Victim" Hires Major Defense Lawyer?)

The Oklahoman ^ | Oct 5, 2006 | Chris Casteel, Nolan Clay, Michael McNutt

[PhiKapMom]

Istook aide may be victim in page scandal

By Chris Casteel, Nolan Clay and Michael McNutt
The Oklahoman

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

[mabelkitty]

No.
For big dollars you usually have a blustery defenses.
This smacks of a lawyer being awakened from a deep sleep with a phone call and a hastily written check by a rich daddy.

[elhombrelibre]

I just sent this to Drudge. I recommend other do the same.

[F.J. Mitchell]

MacVeigh didn't get a lot for his money.

[jess35]

A "coup" attempt within the party is illogical. You're going to paint the party as enablers of child molesters to win a Republican leadership position?

Let's think this through....

[JustaCowgirl]

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.”

I swear, this sounds like some bloviation David Boren would put out. Ernest Istook seems to be in swamp water up to the top of his waders. And putting out erroneous prepared statements isn't really going to help his cause any, either.

[Jewels1091]

there is more to this story than even has been dug up! Just hope that it all comes out BEFORE the election! The media hasn't learnt yet that THE PEOPLE IN THEIR PAJAMAS make pretty good detectives!!!

[mabelkitty]

Not "the GOP", but closeted elements within the GOP such as staffers and ex-staffers.

[jennyjenny]

Money.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

thanks.

[Petronski]

To: Petronski

I know him personally! Don't like him either and thought he was very arrogant for someone so young. First met him about six months ago as he comes from San Diego. You remember a person who wants you to pay for his drink when all you are doing is buying soft drinks. Then he records the other candidate's talk to our group right out in the open. Pure arrogance and I complained to the Istook office and told them I never wanted him around again and suggested they send him back to San Diego.

But there he was at a fundraiser we had in July.

Sitting here shaking my head as the Istook campaign was already on life support which has made no sense. Poorly run campaign -- in fact, it may be the worst run campaign I have ever seen.

307 posted on 10/04/2006 9:30:29 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: Gribbit
"He has been described as power hungry and craving influence."

That describes him, and he will anything for influence.
313 posted on 10/04/2006 9:38:58 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 305 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]


To: mylife

I cannot believe he is only 21. I knew he was young but the way he acts, I would have said late 20's. He knows his way around and is no kid!

317 posted on 10/04/2006 9:44:11 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: rwfromkansas

He is another arrogant person. Cannot figure out how they were hired, but neither can anyone else I know.

333 posted on 10/04/2006 10:01:13 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: merry10

Ernest Istook is running for Oklahoma Governor and is currently a Congressman. His campaign has not been able to get off the ground and is behind by a large number of points.

That is why it made no sense to hire someone from CA for his Oklahoma campaign. Still doesn't.

335 posted on 10/04/2006 10:03:03 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: phoenix0468

Not a chance! This kid is not naive and was bragging about the IM's according to reports.

342 posted on 10/04/2006 10:10:29 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: Dog

Istook is Congressman Istook from OK who is running for OK Gov. This kid was a jerk and I believe completely capable of doing this on purpose. There is more to this then meets the eye.

370 posted on 10/04/2006 10:33:30 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: phoenix0468

It was his IM account.

If you knew this jerk, you wouldn't have a doubt he was capable of doing something like this. This is no naive kid but a well seasoned person.

375 posted on 10/04/2006 10:36:50 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)


To: A Citizen Reporter; Dane

Explains why I couldn't figure out why this kid was working for Istook. He is no conservative and had my doubts about him all the way around along with the campaign manager and so do a lot of people. Worst run campaign and looks like Istook was being tanked and used to get at Hastert.

377 posted on 10/04/2006 10:38:11 PM EDT by PhiKapMom ( Go Sooners! George Allen for President in 2008!)

[stultorum]

ping for later read

[Southack]

I hardly think that a gay 21 year old page from the University of Cal at Berkeley fits the profile of right-wing Republican...

[VOA]

I have read the blogs and have no idea why he needs an attorney either.

My rife (silly) specultion...

Jones is hired to suppress public disclosure of any Foley-Edmund IM
texts in case they mention "noodlin'" and "mountain oysters".

Two innocuous subjects, but would be good for punchlines in any new
Foley jokes.
I can just hear the folks on the coasts call this the "Brokeback Prarie"
chapter of L'Affaire Foley.

[JustaCowgirl]

My post was partly tongue-in-cheek. If there were nothing more to this than meets the eye, it would not be clear at all why Edmund needs a defense attorney. That fact that he's got one leads me to think there is more to this than meets the eye.

I'm popping my popcorn, this is going to be good.

[PhiKapMom]

Was told earlier tonight that the word in D.C. was that Englander was gay. I knew there was something strange about the two of them but never would have guessed this.

[jennyjenny]

This smacks of a lawyer being awakened from a deep sleep with a phone call and a hastily written check by a rich daddy.

Yes, it does. Not so sure it had to be a rich daddy, though.

[LikeLight]

Who's going to wake the DUmmies and tell them about the implosion?

Listen, you're going to have to wake hte DUmmies yourself - - - all Hell is breaking loose and I'm still sitting here fully dressed in my daytime clothes - - - I've gotta get my PJ's on ASAP!!!

[Hattie]

Except he isn't a minor. And I still question if he is a victim.

[JustaCowgirl]

I wonder if it will be revealed that this "victim" has ties to some prominent Dems...

Wouldn't that put some icing on this little cupcake.

[montag813]

Now we see why Mr. Edmund's parents didn't want to pursue this. But thanks to the Democrats and ABC News, their son's life is about to be utterly destroyed.