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Bush 'disgust' at e-mail scandal | Bush 'disgust' at e-mail scandal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President George W Bush says he is disgusted by the actions of former Congressman Mark Foley, accused of sending explicit e-mails to youths. | US President George W Bush says he is disgusted by the actions of former Congressman Mark Foley, accused of sending explicit e-mails to youths. |
But he defended Dennis Hastert, the Republican House leader facing calls to quit for allegedly ignoring the affair. | But he defended Dennis Hastert, the Republican House leader facing calls to quit for allegedly ignoring the affair. |
The row over the alleged cover-up is dominating politics as mid-term polls approach, a BBC correspondent says. | The row over the alleged cover-up is dominating politics as mid-term polls approach, a BBC correspondent says. |
Mr Foley resigned on Friday after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to young men on his staff. | Mr Foley resigned on Friday after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to young men on his staff. |
The youngest recipient of the suggestive e-mails is said to have been 16 years old. | The youngest recipient of the suggestive e-mails is said to have been 16 years old. |
Mr Foley was a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children. | Mr Foley was a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children. |
His lawyer says he has checked into a rehabilitation clinic to be treated for alcoholism. | His lawyer says he has checked into a rehabilitation clinic to be treated for alcoholism. |
Mr Foley's lawyer says his client was abused at a church in his early teens and has declared he is gay. | Mr Foley's lawyer says his client was abused at a church in his early teens and has declared he is gay. |
He said Mr Foley denied ever having sexual contact with a minor. | He said Mr Foley denied ever having sexual contact with a minor. |
'Resign... at once' | 'Resign... at once' |
Mr Bush said he was disappointed that Mr Foley "would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office". | Mr Bush said he was disappointed that Mr Foley "would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office". |
But the president said he supported Mr Hastert, who has called for an investigation into Mr Foley's e-mails. | But the president said he supported Mr Hastert, who has called for an investigation into Mr Foley's e-mails. |
Mr Hastert "wants all the facts to come out", Mr Bush said. | Mr Hastert "wants all the facts to come out", Mr Bush said. |
"I am confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement in this investigation," he said. | "I am confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement in this investigation," he said. |
"He's a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country." | "He's a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country." |
Mr Hastert has denied he knew about the messages before the scandal became public. | Mr Hastert has denied he knew about the messages before the scandal became public. |
"Anyone who had knowledge of these instant messages should have turned them over to authorities immediately, so that kids could be protected," he said earlier. | "Anyone who had knowledge of these instant messages should have turned them over to authorities immediately, so that kids could be protected," he said earlier. |
"I repeat again: the Republican leaders of the House did not have them." | "I repeat again: the Republican leaders of the House did not have them." |
The leader of the House Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, has said 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, has said 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 conservative Washington Times newspaper has also called for Mr Hastert to resign. | The conservative Washington Times newspaper has also called for Mr Hastert to resign. |
An editorial in the paper said Mr Hastert had not acted on warnings over Mr Foley's conduct and must now "do the only right thing and resign his speakership at once". |
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