Committee Questions Ex-Foley Aide
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WASHINGTON — Rep. Mark Foley’s one-time aide, in the House ethics committee, didn’t waver yesterday from his contention that he told the speaker’s chief of staff about Mr. Foley’s approaches to male pages at least three years ago, the witness’s lawyer said.
Kirk Fordham would not comment after emerging from nearly five hours of closed-door testimony, but his lawyer, Timothy Heaphy, said Mr. Fordham was “consistent in his accounts.” Mr. Fordham has spoken out publicly on his timeline and was questioned by the FBI.
The House speaker, Rep. Dennis Hastert, has said he personally learned of the inappropriate approaches by Mr. Foley in late September and his aides found out in the fall of 2005.
The speaker’s chief of staff, Scott Palmer, has denied that Mr. Fordham contacted him at least three years ago, contradicting Mr. Fordham and creating one of the major conflicts the committee will have to resolve.
Mr. Heaphy told reporters that Mr. Fordham was “forthcoming” in his testimony.
“He’s been truthful and cooperative and will continue to be throughout this and other investigations.”
Mr. Heaphy said Mr. Fordham has been asked not to comment on the substance of the inquiry because of the ongoing investigation. Mr. Foley resigned from Congress on September 29, after being confronted with sexually explicit instant messages. Mr. Fordham isn’t the only witness who will testify about earlier, unsuccessful attempts to stop Mr. Foley, although the timelines differ.
Rep. John Shimkus, a Republican of Illinois, scheduled to appear Friday, has said he confronted Mr. Foley last fall, after he was told by Mr. Hastert’s office of an overly friendly — but not sexually explicit — e-mail to a page from Louisiana.
Mr. Shimkus is chairman of the House Page Board, a group of three lawmakers and two House officers who set policy for the program that brings teenagers to Congress to attend school and perform errands in the chamber during sessions.