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Aide to testify in US e-mail row Aide to testify in US e-mail row
(1 day later)
A top aide to the former US congressman who resigned over an explicit e-mail scandal is to testify before the House of Representatives ethics committee. A top aide to the ex-US congressman who quit over an explicit e-mail scandal is due to testify before the House of Representatives ethics committee.
The scandal was triggered by recent revelations that Mark Foley had sent lurid e-mails to young male staff.The scandal was triggered by recent revelations that Mark Foley had sent lurid e-mails to young male staff.
Kirk Fordham is expected to say that Republican leaders knew about Mr Foley's activity at least three years ago, but took no action. Aide Kirk Fordham is expected to say that Republican leaders knew about Mr Foley's activity at least three years ago, but took no action.
Mr Foley has said he is gay but denies any sexual contact with the teenagers.Mr Foley has said he is gay but denies any sexual contact with the teenagers.
Aide denials
Mr Foley resigned on 29 September after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to House pages - high school students appointed to help with administrative work.Mr Foley resigned on 29 September after revelations that he had sent sexual messages to House pages - high school students appointed to help with administrative work.
If there was a cover-up then we should find that out through the investigation process House Speaker Dennis HastertIf there was a cover-up then we should find that out through the investigation process House Speaker Dennis Hastert
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.
In his testimony to the ethics committee, Mr Kirkham is expected to say he warned House Speaker Dennis Hastert's chief-of-staff about Mr Foley's inappropriate conduct in 2003, or possibly a year earlier. In his testimony, Mr Kirkham is expected to say he warned House Speaker Dennis Hastert's chief-of-staff about Mr Foley's inappropriate conduct in 2003, or possibly a year earlier.
The chief-of-staff, Scott Palmer, has denied the claims.The chief-of-staff, Scott Palmer, has denied the claims.
'20/20 hindsight' Mr Hastert's aides say they only learned of an overly friendly e-mail in the autumn of 2005 and of sexually explicit ones last month.
Mr Hastert has said he will sack any member of his staff who may have covered up the e-mail scandal. Mr Hastert, who last week rejected calls for his resignation over his handling of the case, has said he will sack any member of his staff who may have covered up the e-mail scandal.
Mr Hastert, who last week rejected calls for his resignation over his handling of the case, reiterated that he had been unaware of Mr Foley's alleged behaviour.
"In 20/20 hindsight, probably you can do everything a little bit better, but if there is a problem, if there was a cover-up, then we should find that out through the investigation process.
US MID-TERMS BLOG The case against the Republicans looks so bad, so utterly unanswerable BBC Washington correspondent Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullUS MID-TERMS BLOG The case against the Republicans looks so bad, so utterly unanswerable BBC Washington correspondent Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full
"[The witnesses] will be under oath and we'll find out. If they did cover something up, then they should not continue to have their job," Mr Hastert said. Jim Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in Congress, said he became aware of Mr Foley's behaviour six years ago, after a young worker showed him inappropriate messages.
His comments came as Jim Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in Congress, said he became aware of Mr Foley's behaviour six years ago, after a young worker showed him inappropriate messages.
Mr Kolbe said he passed the information on "promptly" to the office that supervises the pages.Mr Kolbe said he passed the information on "promptly" to the office that supervises the pages.
"I did not have a personal conversation with Mr Foley about the matter. I assume e-mail contacts ceased, since the former page never raised the issue again with my office.""I did not have a personal conversation with Mr Foley about the matter. I assume e-mail contacts ceased, since the former page never raised the issue again with my office."
The ethics committee, on which there are five Democrats and five Republicans, held its first meeting last Thursday and has already ordered 50 subpoenas. The ethics committee, on which there are five Democrats and five Republicans, will examine who became aware of the allegations and when, although it has no jurisdiction over Mr Foley.
The committee will examine who became aware of the allegations and when, although it has no jurisdiction over Mr Foley. Committee chairman Doc Hastings said he hoped to finish the inquiry "in weeks", but it is unclear whether it will be complete before the 7 November mid-term elections.
Ethics Committee chairman Doc Hastings said he hoped to finish the inquiry "in weeks", but it is unclear whether it will be complete before the 7 November mid-term elections.
The scandal is dominating US politics, with opinion polls suggesting it has already harmed President George W Bush's standing.The scandal is dominating US politics, with opinion polls suggesting it has already harmed President George W Bush's standing.