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| US House considers e-mail scandal | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US House of Representatives ethics panel has met to discuss the actions of disgraced ex-Congressman Mark Foley, who sent lurid e-mails to teenage boys. | |
| It comes as the House's top Republican faces new charges of covering up the scandal observers say is dominating politics ahead of the mid-term polls. | It comes as the House's top Republican faces new charges of covering up the scandal observers say is dominating politics ahead of the mid-term polls. |
| A former aide to Mr Foley says he warned House leader Dennis Hastert about Mr Foley's conduct in 2003. | A former aide to Mr Foley says he warned House leader Dennis Hastert about Mr Foley's conduct in 2003. |
| Mr Hastert denies early knowledge of the e-mails and says he will not quit. | Mr Hastert denies early knowledge of the e-mails and says he will not quit. |
| President George W Bush has defended Mr Hastert and spoken of his disgust at Mr Foley's actions. | President George W Bush has defended Mr Hastert and spoken of his disgust at Mr Foley's actions. |
| Mr Foley, a member of the House of Representatives caucus on missing and exploited children, resigned last week after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to young men on his staff. | |
| 'Point scoring' | 'Point scoring' |
| The House Ethics Committee, which has five Democrats and five Republicans, has held a meeting and is expected to begin an inquiry. | |
| House leader Hastert has received backing from the president | |
| The committee will examine who became aware of the allegations and when, although it has no jurisdiction over Mr Foley. | |
| Kirk Fordham, Mr Foley's chief of staff until early 2004, told the Associated Press he had warned Mr Hastert's office of Mr Foley's behaviour more than three years ago. | Kirk Fordham, Mr Foley's chief of staff until early 2004, told the Associated Press he had warned Mr Hastert's office of Mr Foley's behaviour more than three years ago. |
| 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". | 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. | He also denied allegations that he covered up any misdeeds by Mr Foley. |
| Mr Hastert has strongly defended his role, accusing the Democrats of political point-scoring. | Mr Hastert has strongly defended his role, accusing the Democrats of political point-scoring. |
| Mr Bush has backed Mr Hastert, saying he "wants all the facts to come out". | Mr Bush has backed Mr Hastert, saying he "wants all the facts to come out". |
| But correspondents say some senior Republicans are distancing themselves from Mr Hastert and suggesting further resignations are required to restore the party's credibility. | But correspondents say some senior Republicans are distancing themselves from Mr Hastert and suggesting further resignations are required to restore the party's credibility. |
| 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 | Sexual contact denied |
| The youngest recipient of the suggestive e-mails is said to have been 16-years-old. | |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| ABC Television published intimate e-mail exchanges showing Mr Foley and one congressional "page" worker planning an encounter and trading internet kisses. | ABC Television 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 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. |
| 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. |
| The Post said about a dozen former pages had talked of Mr Foley's behaviour, some of them expressing how it made them uncomfortable. | 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. | None has suggested any sexual activities ever took place. |