A Republican congressman knew of disgraced former representative
Mark Foley’s inappropriate Internet exchanges as far back as 2000 and personally confronted Foley about his communications.
A spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) confirmed yesterday that a former page showed the congressman Internet messages that had made the youth feel uncomfortable with the direction Foley (R-Fla.) was taking their e-mail relationship. Last week, when the Foley matter erupted, a Kolbe staff member suggested to the former page that he take the matter to the clerk of the House, Karen Haas, said Kolbe’s press secretary, Korenna Cline.…A source with direct knowledge of Kolbe’s involvement said the messages shared with Kolbe were sexually explicit, and he read the contents to The Washington Post under condition that they are not reprinted. But Cline denied the source’s characterization, saying only that the messages had made the former page feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, she said, "corrective action" was taken. Cline said she still has not yet determined whether that action went beyond Kolbe’s confrontation with Foley.
Kolbe is a retiring Republican House member who was Goldwater’s page as a young man. He revealed his own homosexuality in 1996. He was Chairman of the Page Board in 2000 when he was replaced by Sue Kelly [R-New York].
Jim became interested in politics at a young age when he served as a page for Senator Barry Goldwater in his high school years. His keen interest in international affairs began during a one year global educational course while attending college.
How loud did it have to get before someone heard it? Foley was like a ‘fox in a hen house,’ ‘a kid in a candy store,’ ‘a bull in a china shop’ – whatever metaphor one might use to say way loud enough to be heard, and way sick enough not to stop on his own. Seems like Kolbe, a former page himself, might have stuck with the issue until it was resolved…
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