Media ignore Republican groundswell calling for investigation of GOP leadership in Foley scandal

Written by Rob Morlino

Published

While some media outlets have reported individual calls from congressional Republicans for an investigation of the House GOP leadership's handling of the allegations against former Rep. Mark Foley, the media have failed to report that as many as five congressional Republicans have done so in total.

Various media outlets have separately reported that as many as five congressional Republicans have called for investigations into the House GOP leadership's handling of former Rep. Mark Foley's (R-FL) allegedly inappropriate communications with a congressional page, including several who have called for resignations if such an investigation concludes that the leadership knew of Foley's actions but failed to take appropriate action or participated in a cover-up. While some in the media have noted these statements individually, thus far the media have failed to report on the growing number of Republicans collectively who have called for investigations of the leadership. They include:

  • Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT): “If they knew or should have known the extent of this problem, they should not serve in leadership.” (Reported October 1 by The New York Times.)
  • Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA): "[A]ll such criminal investigations [into the Foley matter] should include any individual who may have had knowledge of this incident, any prior incidents or related incidents and the actions of those individuals may have taken in the light of that knowledge." (Reported by ABC News on October 2. ABC's The Note separately reported that Fitzpatrick “agrees with Shays' statement to the New York Times that if the Republican leadership knew or should have known the extent of this problem, they should not serve in leadership.”)
  • Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT): “If it is found that any member of Congress or staff willingly participated in a cover-up of Mr. Foley's actions, that individual should resign immediately.” (Reported by USA Today, October 2.)
  • Rep. Peter King (R-NY): “Certainly anyone in the Republican leadership, any member of the Congress who knew anything about this should tell exactly what they knew and when they knew it.” (Reported by ABC News on October 2.)
  • Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH): “I think you have to look and see what they [the leadership] knew and what they did about it. I would want to know what they did about it.” (From DeWine's October 1 appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, after host Tim Russert asked if DeWine agreed with Shays's statement.)