GOP last minute coverup attempt

[james_bond_3rd]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100587.html

On Friday afternoon, a strategist for Rep. Mark Foley tried to cut a deal with ABC's Brian Ross.

The correspondent, who had dozens of instant messages that Foley sent to teenage House pages, had asked to interview the Florida Republican. Foley's former chief of staff said the congressman was quitting and that Ross could have that information exclusively if he agreed not to publish the raw, sexually explicit messages.

Guess who this "Foley's former chief of staff" guy is? He is Kirk Fordham, former chief of staff for Foley, currently chief of staff for Congressman Tom Reynolds (R-NY). Since at the time (last Friday), Fordham was working for Reynolds instead of Foley, this smells very much like a last-ditch cover-up attempt.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Features/CapitolAmbitions/102505.html

Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) has two new staffers full of conviction for their constituents in the 26th District of New York.

L.D. Platt, the new communications director, said he will occasionally visit the western New York district “to make sure people know what Reynolds is doing in D.C.” Meanwhile, Kirk Fordham, the new chief of staff, will focus on collaboration with the New York delegation on economic reform in western New York. Fordham previously served as Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-Fla.) chief of staff and was the finance director for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.).

Clearly for Congressman Reynolds, his grab on power is more important than the "family values."