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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scandal-hit US lawmaker in rehab | Scandal-hit US lawmaker in rehab |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Former US Congressman Mark Foley, who has been embroiled in a scandal over sexually suggestive e-mails, says he is undergoing treatment for alcoholism. | Former US Congressman Mark Foley, who has been embroiled in a scandal over sexually suggestive e-mails, says he is undergoing treatment for alcoholism. |
| The Florida Republican had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility, his lawyer said. | The Florida Republican had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility, his lawyer said. |
| Mr Foley was forced to resign on Friday after it was revealed that he had sent sexual messages to young men, the youngest aged 16, on his staff. | Mr Foley was forced to resign on Friday after it was revealed that he had sent sexual messages to young men, the youngest aged 16, on his staff. |
| Senior US politicians have called for a full inquiry into his conduct. | Senior US politicians have called for a full inquiry into his conduct. |
| And the FBI is examining the messages to see if any law has been broken. | And the FBI is examining the messages to see if any law has been broken. |
| Cover-up allegations | |
| The message scandal has led to accusations that senior Republicans may have been aware of the communications but decided to ignore them. | The message scandal has led to accusations that senior Republicans may have been aware of the communications but decided to ignore them. |
| I strongly believe that I am an alcoholic and have accepted the need for immediate treatment for alcoholism and other behavioural problems Mark Foley | |
| "Republican leaders admitted to knowing about Mr Foley's abhorrent behaviour for six months to a year, and failed to protect the children in their trust," the Leader of the House Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, said. | |
| House Speaker Dennis Hastert hit back at the charge. | |
| "Anyone who had knowledge of these instant messages should have turned them over to authorities immediately, so that kids could be protected," he said. | |
| "I repeat again: the Republican leaders of the House did not have them." | |
| Mr Foley's lawyer, David Roth, refused to identify which rehabilitation unit his client was being treated in, although he did say that Mr Foley had gone in for treatment at the weekend. | |
| "I strongly believe that I am an alcoholic and have accepted the need for immediate treatment for alcoholism and other behavioural problems," Mr Foley said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press news agency. | |
| Mr Foley - a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children - apologised when announcing his resignation on Friday. | Mr Foley - a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children - apologised when announcing his resignation on Friday. |
| Political fallout | Political fallout |
| Mr Hastert on Sunday urged the justice department to investigate Mr Foley's messages to pages - students serving as messengers and assistants to members of Congress. | |
| Some messages were sexually explicit and at least one of the recipients was only 16 years old. | Some messages were sexually explicit and at least one of the recipients was only 16 years old. |
| The White House and Democratic leaders in Congress also called for a criminal inquiry. | The White House and Democratic leaders in Congress also called for a criminal inquiry. |
| "There is going to be, I'm sure, a criminal investigation into the particulars of this case," said White House counsel Dan Bartlett - who called the allegations "shocking". | "There is going to be, I'm sure, a criminal investigation into the particulars of this case," said White House counsel Dan Bartlett - who called the allegations "shocking". |
| The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that over the weekend it became clear that what started as a minor embarrassment for the Republican party had the potential to become something far worse. | The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that over the weekend it became clear that what started as a minor embarrassment for the Republican party had the potential to become something far worse. |
| It has emerged that Mr Foley's behaviour had been known about for some time by senior colleagues, including the party's leader in the House. | It has emerged that Mr Foley's behaviour had been known about for some time by senior colleagues, including the party's leader in the House. |
| They are now arguing about how much they knew - but the Democrats and some Republicans have called for the party's Congressional leaders to step down. | They are now arguing about how much they knew - but the Democrats and some Republicans have called for the party's Congressional leaders to step down. |
| Our correspondent says the scandal could cost the Republicans votes in next month's mid-term elections - votes they cannot afford to lose. | Our correspondent says the scandal could cost the Republicans votes in next month's mid-term elections - votes they cannot afford to lose. |