Foley Online Messages Were Page Prank Gone Awry?

Posted on October 5, 2006

Hat tip: MKH: Credit: Drudge

According to two people close to former congressional page Jordan Edmund, the now famous lurid AOL Instant Message exchanges that led to the resignation of Mark Foley were part of an online prank that by mistake got into the hands of enemy political operatives, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal.

According to one Oklahoma source who knows the former page very well, Edmund, a conservative Republican, goaded Foley to type embarrassing comments that were then shared with a small group of young Hill politicos. The prank went awry when the saved IM sessions got into the hands of political operatives favorable to Democrats. This source, an ally of Edmund, also adamantly proclaims that the former page is not a homosexual. The prank scenario was confirmed by a second associate of Edmund.

The news come on the heels that former FBI Chief Louis Freeh has been named to investigate the mess.

Developing…

I’m with MKH

But then why would Foley resign? Just because he’s gay? This don’t make no sense. If it’s true, though? Best. Rovian. Plot. Ever.

Furthermore, even if it was a prank it changes nothing. If it was a prank, Foley fell for it. Foley’s actions are inexcusable no matter which way you cut it. He abused his power, and this young man wasn’t the only one. There is a pattern of a abuse. On the other hand, if the young man is in the closet about his sexuality, well then of course he would say something like this. Perhaps this is why he has hired a lawyer?

I also agree with Allah:

The only real scoop is that Democrats were involved. The fact that it was a “prank” — if it was a prank, which I seriously doubt — doesn’t absolve Foley from his predatory intent.

Brendan Loy, this in no way gets Foley off the hook.

Now, wait just a minute. “Goaded” him into typing the comments? What the heck does that mean? Was Foley in on the “prank”? Or was he “goaded” only in the sense that these pages were getting him to type “embarrassing” pederastic comments that reflect his true nature? If the latter, this is almost a non-story.

Fellow contributor Glib Fortuna adds:

This new twist may be the news that makes this thing BLOW UP right in the Dems’ faces. Foley is disgraced, he career is over, his life is out of control…how many more pounds of flesh can be cleaved from his sorry hide? If true, what it looks like is that a couple of kids suspected the congressman of having certain proclivities and thought it would be a yuck-fest to pull something like this. While Foley should not have been open to be baited like this, it certainly does look like an attempt to slam Foley for his homosexuality. If the Leftist group that was behind the release of these IMs knew any, all or even none of this, AND held onto the information for ANY period of time, it is a clear case of a double-standard regarding when or if it’s OK to blast someone’s sexuality for use as a political tool and these people should be a prime focus in the investigation. Hypocrisy from the Left? During an election season? Say it ain’t so.

Lorie Byrd tells me that Betsy Newmark predicted this. Sixth sense?

Here are Betsy’s comments:

“Foley is a complete sleaze, he has got a real problem, but let me say, this kid is not an innocent kid. You read those things, he’s leading him on. He’s like a little Lolita. And what I picture, I picture this kid, he’s in his dorm room, or wherever he is, and he has got 3 or 4 friends on and they’re just giggling themselves silly. “Look what I got this Congressman to say.” That’s why he saved these IM messages, so he could send it around to all his friends and they could laugh at this poor, middle-aged Congressman who is so pitiful and has got some real sick problems. It just seems to be the type of thing that teenaged boys would have thought was so funny. This isn’t some kid who is innocently appalled at what he’s getting. He’s leading that guy on.”

Huge roundup at Gateway Pundit.

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4 Responses to “Foley Online Messages Were Page Prank Gone Awry?”

kerwin_brown on October 5th, 2006 3:57 pm

Foley might have been part of the prank if there was a prank. We have to hear more to make any where near an accurate call.
Jay on October 5th, 2006 3:59 pm

Yes indeed, it isn’t adding up to make much sense. Too many missing pieces still.
OttO on October 5th, 2006 9:01 pm

It makes sense to me. What’s the difference if it was a prank or not – Foley thought it was real and he HAD to resign.

Was this kid 18 at the time? Or was Foley led to believe he was 18? I’ve been hearing bits and pieces and haven’t put it together yet. If he was, then this aspect of the scandal is all a moot point. The left is going after him as a child predator (like they ‘always’ go hard after child predators!) and in this instance, he may not have been.
gfactor on October 5th, 2006 9:08 pm

It was all a bad dream. Everything is all right.