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| Fresh claims fuel US e-mail row | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US Republican Party is struggling to contain the scandal surrounding former Congressman Mark Foley's e-mails to young men amid new allegations. | The US Republican Party is struggling to contain the scandal surrounding former Congressman Mark Foley's e-mails to young men amid new allegations. |
| US media revealed a possible romantic link with a young congressional worker and that warnings about Mr Foley's conduct went as far back as 1995. | US media revealed a possible romantic link with a young congressional worker and that warnings about Mr Foley's conduct went as far back as 1995. |
| Republican House leader Dennis Hastert has refused to bow to calls for him to resign over his failure to act sooner. | Republican House leader Dennis Hastert has refused to bow to calls for him to resign over his failure to act sooner. |
| Mr Foley denied ever having sexual contact with a minor, his lawyer said. | Mr Foley denied ever having sexual contact with a minor, his lawyer said. |
| President George W Bush said he had been disgusted by Mr Foley's actions. | President George W Bush said he had been disgusted by Mr Foley's actions. |
| But Mr Bush also defended Mr Hastert in a scandal correspondents say is dominating politics as mid-term polls approach. | But Mr Bush also defended Mr Hastert in a scandal correspondents say is dominating politics as mid-term polls approach. |
| Sexual contact denied | Sexual contact denied |
| Mr Foley, a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children, resigned on Friday after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to young men on his staff. | Mr Foley, a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children, resigned on Friday after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to young men on his staff. |
| Any suggestion that Mark Foley is a paedophile is false, categorically false David Roth, lawyer | Any suggestion that Mark Foley is a paedophile is false, categorically false David Roth, lawyer |
| 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's lawyer said the former Congressman denied ever having sexual contact with a minor and had checked into a rehabilitation clinic to be treated for alcoholism. | Mr Foley's lawyer said the former Congressman denied ever having sexual contact with a minor and had checked into a rehabilitation clinic to be treated for alcoholism. |
| Mr Foley's lawyer says his client has declared he is gay and was abused at a church in his early teens. | Mr Foley's lawyer says his client has declared he is gay and was abused at a church in his early teens. |
| The lawyer, David Roth, said: "Mark has asked that you be told that between the ages of 13 and 15 he was molested by a clergyman. Mark will address this issue further upon his release from treatment." | The lawyer, David Roth, said: "Mark has asked that you be told that between the ages of 13 and 15 he was molested by a clergyman. Mark will address this issue further upon his release from treatment." |
| Ad campaign | Ad campaign |
| ABC Television has now published intimate e-mail exchanges showing Mr Foley and one congressional "page" worker planning an encounter and trading internet kisses. | ABC Television has now published intimate e-mail exchanges showing Mr Foley and one congressional "page" worker planning an encounter and trading internet kisses. |
| Page workers are high school students over the age of 16 appointed to help with administrative work at the House of Representatives. | Page workers are high school students over the age of 16 appointed to help with administrative work at the House of Representatives. |
| It said in one April 2003 message Mr Foley invited a teenager to his home to drink alcohol, an invitation that was accepted. | It said in one April 2003 message Mr Foley invited a teenager to his home to drink alcohol, an invitation that was accepted. |
| Dennis Hastert accused Democrats of political point-scoring | Dennis Hastert accused Democrats of political point-scoring |
| The Washington Post reported that as far back as 1995, some pages were warned to be aware of the actions of Mr Foley. | The Washington Post reported that as far back as 1995, some pages were warned to be aware of the actions of Mr Foley. |
| One former page said Mr Foley sent e-mails asking them to join him for ice-cream. | One former page said Mr Foley sent e-mails asking them to join him for ice-cream. |
| The Post said about a dozen former pages had talked of Mr Foley's behaviour, some of them expressing how it made them uncomfortable. None has suggested any sexual activities ever took place. | The Post said about a dozen former pages had talked of Mr Foley's behaviour, some of them expressing how it made them uncomfortable. None has suggested any sexual activities ever took place. |
| The Washington Times newspaper has accused Mr Hastert of not fully pursuing warnings over Mr Foley. Its headline: "Resign, Mr Speaker" echoed calls from some conservative Republicans. | The Washington Times newspaper has accused Mr Hastert of not fully pursuing warnings over Mr Foley. Its headline: "Resign, Mr Speaker" echoed calls from some conservative Republicans. |
| Mr Hastert strongly defended his role, accusing the Democrats of political point-scoring. | Mr Hastert strongly defended his role, accusing the Democrats of political point-scoring. |
| He said: "If they get to me it looks like they could affect our election as well." | He said: "If they get to me it looks like they could affect our election as well." |
| Mr Hastert denied he knew about the e-mail messages before the scandal became public. | Mr Hastert denied he knew about the e-mail messages before the scandal became public. |
| Mr Bush backed Mr Hastert, saying the Speaker "wants all the facts to come out". | Mr Bush backed Mr Hastert, saying the Speaker "wants all the facts to come out". |
| The president added: "He's a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country." | The president added: "He's a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country." |
| But Mr Bush said he was disappointed that Mr Foley "would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office". | But Mr Bush said he was disappointed that Mr Foley "would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office". |
| The scandal has dominated news channels and internet sites. | The scandal has dominated news channels and internet sites. |
| Minnesota Democrat House candidate Patty Wetterling has become the first to use Mr Foley in her campaign advertising. | Minnesota Democrat House candidate Patty Wetterling has become the first to use Mr Foley in her campaign advertising. |
| Mrs Wetterling, whose 11-year-old son was abducted in 1989 and never found, accused Republican leaders of covering up the matter. |