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Fresh claims fuel US e-mail row E-mail row hits top US Republican
(about 4 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 most senior Republican in the US House of Representatives is facing new charges of covering up a scandal over a former congressman's lurid e-mails.
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. A former aide to disgraced Congressman Mark Foley says he warned Republican House leader Dennis Hastert about Mr Foley's conduct three years ago.
Republican House leader Dennis Hastert has refused to bow to calls for him to resign over his failure to act sooner. Mr Foley resigned after it emerged last week that he sent sexually suggestive e-mails to young men on his staff.
Mr Foley denied ever having sexual contact with a minor, his lawyer said. Mr Hastert denies early knowledge of the e-mails and says he will not quit.
President George W Bush said he had been disgusted by Mr Foley's actions. President George W Bush has spoken of his disgust at Mr Foley's actions.
But Mr Bush also defended Mr Hastert in a scandal correspondents say is dominating politics as next month's mid-term polls approach. But Mr Bush has also defended Mr Hastert in a scandal correspondents say is dominating politics as next month's mid-term polls approach.
Any suggestion that Mark Foley is a paedophile is false, categorically false David Roth, lawyer
The latest opinion poll shows the Democrats within reach of retaking the House of Representatives, leading in 11 of 15 vital Republican-held seats.The latest opinion poll shows the Democrats within reach of retaking the House of Representatives, leading in 11 of 15 vital Republican-held seats.
Sexual contact denied The new allegations were levelled by Kirk Fordham, who was Mr Foley's chief of staff until early 2004.
He told the Associated Press news agency he had warned Mr Hastert's office of Mr Foley's behaviour more than three years ago.
'Resign, Mr Speaker'
Mr Fordham said he had had "more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest level of the House of Representatives asking them to intervene".
He also denied allegations that he covered up any misdeeds by Mr Foley.
Mark Foley was "abused as a teenager by a priest"
"At no point ever did I ask anyone to block any inquiries," he told the agency.
The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says Mr Fordham's claim further weakens Mr Hastert's position, as it suggests he knew of the Congressman's behaviour far earlier than he has admitted.
Mr Hastert has strongly defended his role, accusing the Democrats of political point-scoring.
Mr Bush has backed Mr Hastert, saying the Speaker "wants all the facts to come out".
Earlier on Wednesday, 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.
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 Sexual contact denied
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 denied ever having sexual contact with a minor, his lawyer said - adding that his client had declared he was gay and had been abused 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."
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 aged at least 16 years old, appointed to help with administrative work at the House of Representatives. Page workers are high school students 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
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 had 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.
One Republican representative, Ray LaHood, said on Wednesday the page programme should be shut temporarily because "some members betray their trust by taking advantage of them". 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.
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."
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".
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".
Opinion poll
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.
Mrs Wetterling, whose 11-year-old son was abducted in 1989 and never found, accused Republican leaders of covering up the matter.
A new Reuters/Zogby poll of at least 500 voters in 15 Republican districts, taken in a period that overlapped the Foley case by three days, showed the Democrats ahead in 11.
Several other Republican-held districts favoured to go Democrat were not polled.
The Democrats need 15 seats to retake the House on 7 November.