Posted on 10/04/2006 8:39:44 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
A former U.S. House page working on the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Rep. Ernest Istook may be a part of the scandal involving former Congressman Mark Foley, The Oklahoman has learned.
The former page, a Californian named Jordan Edmund, on Wednesday hired Enid attorney Stephen Jones to represent him, the attorney confirmed.
Jones would not say exactly why he was hired, but did say, “I understand the FBI and the House Ethics committee have an interest in the matter ... the allegations concerning Congressman Foley which have surfaced.”
Foley, a Republican from Florida, resigned abruptly on Friday after it was learned that he exchanged sexually explicit e-mails with former pages. The FBI is investigating.
Istook’s campaign manager, Chip Englander, who is also from California, declined comment Wednesday to an Oklahoman reporter.
However, Englander gave The Oklahoman a statement that was attributed to Istook.
The statement says, “The sad and sick behavior of Mark Foley was a total surprise to me when it was revealed. Law enforcement is doing its job, and I support that effort. Now we should all support and protect the victims, and they should not be hounded by the press.
“It was a complete surprise to learn this morning that one victim may be someone I know. Each one of the victims deserves their privacy. To every reporter I request, please have the decency to avoid making things worse for the victims, and just leave them alone. This happened years ago when the victims were minors.”
Reached at his home, Istook referred to the prepared statement.
Edmund’s name surfaced on Internet “blogs” that linked him to the instant message address used in communications with Foley.
One blogger got the instant message address from the Web site of ABC News, which has obtained the instant messages sent between Foley and a former page.
In the sequence of messages identified by the blogger, Foley tells the person to “strip down and get relaxed.”
It is not clear whether Foley’s other instant messages, including one in which he apparently conducted “instant message” sex with a person, were all to the same person.
Asked why Edmund needed an attorney, Jones said, “You read the blogs. You know why he needs an attorney.”
Jones, who represented Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in his murder trial in Denver, confirmed Edmund was a U.S. House page.
“I’ve been retained in the last several hours,” Jones said. “I’m still reviewing matters.”
Jones said the two met Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
Edmund had an Internet page on the popular MySpace Web site.
On that page, he identified himself as being 21 years old and said he had been attending college at the University of California at Berkeley. He said he was going to Oklahoma to be deputy campaign manager for Istook’s gubernatorial effort, the Web site stated.
Edmund registered to vote in Oklahoma in March, records show.
The House Ethics Committee is scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting this morning about the Foley matter.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, one of the 10 members of the committee, flew back to Washington on Wednesday for what he called an “emergency meeting.”
He said the committee today would not hear from witnesses but would set the parameters of the investigation.
Contributing: Staff Writers Joe Wertz, Bryan Dean, Jennifer Mock and Ryan McNeill
Copyright 2006
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This is starting to look like an organized attack on the GOP by a bunch of gay activists entrenched in GOP staff positions!
Is Istook gay?
Why would you record the IM if not to use it later. The schuyster was hired because the "victim" is going away for extortion.
I was at the stadium when the lone, depressed suicide bomber blew himself up! Norman was also home to Moussaouri and Nicholas Berg was here for awhile. And now McVeigh's attorney has been hired by Edmunds. For such a small state, we sure do have our moments. :)
Jordan would need a lawyer if he tried to blackmail Foley or other Republicans. There's reporting now that he bragged about having the dirt on a congressman to his friends. I'm don't think he hired the right lawyer if he was going to sue ABC or the blogs in civil court. Sounds like he's anticipating being the subject of a criminal investigation.
Plus you've got that great Rogers and Hammerstein tune!
Fordham knows Foley's "tastes" and is Foley's Chief of Staff... Edmond plays IM games with Foley, goes to Fordham with his IMs... Fordham helps Edmond (and Edmond's "pal" Chip Englander) get job way above his skills, in Istook campaign...
Just thinking...
Wouldn't bet against somebody already having taken a look at the little snot's PC and found something interesting.
If you want a new screenname someday, "Dr. Faraday" is available.
The victim obtaining an attorney makes sense to me. This lawyer is going to make sure that his side of the story gets out, as well as protecting him from any fallout that may result from this story. I expect one of the first things they will do is protect his reputation (whats left of it) with a public relations specialist. Seems to me this is what Amber Frey did, after it came out she was hooked up with Scott Peterson, and it worked out much better for her than it would have, had she not lawyered up.
A "Freeper" knows? Lets be realistic here. Most of us are anonymous and can claim anything we want to claim. In order to be taken seriously, a blogger would need to present some real evidence (personal opinion aside) to support his claim. Our Freeper may or may not be able/willing to do that. As for the claim that this kid was a "scoundrel" .. well, what can I say? It's a personal opinion. Even if it is factual that at times he is a total "scoundrel" .. it wouldn't be news.
This story is still breaking. I suspect there is going to be more coming out in the next few days. Like you, however, I am quite surprised that the media has not picked up on any of the new developments yet. I suspect that they want to be careful about the sources, and in some cases this new information is not what they were eager to write/talk about.
ROFLOL! He has five kids and is Mormon. I just posted a link on the OK locale that could shed some light on this. I have been sent this link so many times starting last December after Istook announced and it seems to be common knowledge around OK although I had no knowledge prior to December. It has been on the Dem site here off and on during the election cycle. I have been told it is true but people can judge for themselves. http://mormonalliance.org/casereports/volume1/part2/v1p2c15.htm
And Fordham also worked for Inhof from Ok.? Good grief..
Something is missing here yet. Earlier today I heard something about the gays being very upset over the gay marriage vote a year or so ago. They promised to get Foley for it because he voted against it and they knew he was gay. Now I think you are right we are going to see more Rep gays outed in this deal. Coming from the gay groups via the Dems to get us out of power.
I can say that of you, but I happen to trust PhiKapMom.
Why he needs a lawyer ....
When the FBI nocks on your door, and you been conspiring with Democrats, you better have a lawyer!!!!!
This is big news. The guy was 18, a consenting Homo...sapian? Homo ... erectus?
I guess the guy found out he is a pawne getting used as fodder by Dems, never thinking it would get this far.
How funny is this!!!!!!
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