Pressure builds on Republicans in US sex scandal

Mark Foley (left) and Dennis Hastert

WASHINGTON - Republican US House leaders faced growing pressure over a congressional sex scandal today, with Speaker Dennis Hastert rejecting calls to step down for his handling of sexual messages sent to teenage boys by representative Mark Foley.

The conservative Washington Times newspaper, usually a Republican supporter, accused Hastert of barely pursuing warnings about Foley's messages and said in an editorial he "must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once."

Hastert has denied any knowledge of Foley's overtly sexual internet messages to male congressional pages until they were made public at the weekend, and his spokesman rejected calls for his resignation.

"The speaker has and will lead the Republican conference to another majority in the 110th Congress," said spokesman Ron Bonjean.

President George W Bush did not respond to questions in California over whether Hastert should resign, though he did say the Republican was "a father, teacher, coach who cares about the children of this country."

"I'm confident he will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement" in its investigation of Foley, Bush said.

The disclosures were a blow to Republicans as they fight to retain control of Congress in November 7 elections, giving Democrats new ammunition in the battle to pick up the 15 House seats and six Senate seats needed to claim majorities in each chamber.

Bush, on a fund-raising trip in Stockton, told reporters he was "dismayed and shocked" by Foley's behaviour and supported calls for an investigation of the incident.

"I was disgusted by the revelation, and disappointed that he would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office," Bush said.

Members of both parties, including some leading conservatives, said any congressional leader who had known the content of the messages and had failed to take action should step down.

Conservative activist Richard Viguerie said Hastert should go. "We are not going to get to the political promised land until we have new leaders, and it's time for pretty much all of the leaders to leave," Viguerie told CNN.

House Republicans held a conference call yesterday to discuss the scandal and its fallout, with a top Republican Party aide calling the next few days crucial.

"There isn't much time to right the ship," the aide said. "Somebody has to take the fall."

Some House Republicans looked into email traffic between Foley and a 16-year-old boy last spring, which was described to them as "over-friendly," but House leaders said they were not made aware of explicit messages sent to other pages.

Conservative and religious leaders expressed unhappiness with the unfolding scandal and Republican strategists worried some conservative voters would wind up sitting home on November 7 out of disgust.

"The big danger for Republicans is they are going to reach a tipping point with the conservative base and they are going to stay home," said Republican consultant Rich Galen.

"It's a very uncomfortable situation right now, and the most uncomfortable person of all is the speaker."

The FBI, Florida state investigators and House ethics investigators are all looking into Foley's communications with pages, who are teenagers assigned to answer telephones, deliver documents and run other errands for members of Congress.

House Republican Leader John Boehner, in an interview with an Ohio radio station, said Hastert had told him the situation "had been taken care of" and "my position is it's in his corner, it's his responsibility."

At least one Republicans rallied to Hastert's defence.

"The speaker has led the Congress through dangerous and important times. His leadership has been steady and consistent, and he has the strong support of the conference," said representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the third-ranking House Republican.

The scandal created a ripe takeover target in Foley's previously safe district for Democrats, and gave them renewed ammunition for charges Republicans have abused their power.

- REUTERS