CREW citizens for responsibility and ethics in washington October 2, 2006 Honorable Glenn A. Fine Inspector General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N..W. Suite 4706 Washington, D.C, 20530-0001 BY FAX: — 202-514-4001 Dear Mr. Fine: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) respectfully requests that your office investigate why the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) failed to begin investigating Rep. Mark Foley’s conduct in sending inappropriate emails to a former House page as soon as the Bureau leamed about the emails in July 2006. On July 21, 2006, CREW received a set of emails, allegedly from Rep. Foley to a former House page. The emails, which are attached for your review, asked the page, who had recently left the Hill, his age, how schoo! was going and what he wanted for his birthday. Rep. Foley also requested the boy’s photograph, Forwarding the messages to a congressional staffer, the former page explained that he had given his email address to Rep. Foley upon the Congressman’s request, Clearly discomtfited by the emails, the young man asked what the staffer thought about them and wondered what action he should take in response The sixteen-year-old wrote, “Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously, This freaked me out.” Regarding Rep. Foley’s request for his photograph, the former page wrote, “Sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick Asa former prosecutor who handled sex crimes in the District of Columbia, the emails set off alarm bells. Grown men simply do not send emails requesting photographs to teenagers over whom they have had some degree of authority. As a result, the same day that [ received the emails, I spoke with a special agent in the Washington Field Office of the FBI, explained what I hhad and forwarded copies of the emails. According to press reports, at the instigation of leadership of the House of Representatives, the FBI has begun a preliminary investigation into former Rep. Mark Foley's conduct, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert sent a letter to Attomey General Alberto Gonzales requesting an investigation into Rep. Foley’s actions, as well as who knew about Rep. Foley’s conduct, when they knew it and why they did not forward that information to law enforcement authorities, 1400 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 450, Washington, D.C. 20005 | 202.408.5565 phone | 202.588.5020 fax | www.citizensforethics. org, aInspector General Fine October 2, 2006 Page Two If the FBI is only now beginning a preliminary investigation, clearly the Bureau failed to act when CREW forwarded the emails to the FBI back in July. The FBI's inaction raises several serious questions. Why didn’t the FBI start investigating as soon as it first received the emails? Why did the FBI not take seriously the possibility that a member of Congress had abused his power by making sexual advances to a teenage boy? Why wasn’t the FBI concerned enough about other teenagers in the page program to step in and take action? ‘Thus, in addition to an investigation as to who knew about Rep. Foley’s conduct and failed to report it, it is imperative that your office look into why the FBI, which had been provided with evidence regarding Rep. Foley's conduct, failed to investigate. Was the FBI afiaid of the political consequences that might ensue from investigating a powerfull member of Congress for potential child sexual abuse ~ particularly given Rep. Foley’s role as the chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children Caucus? Did a political appointee quash the investigation? The American public deserves to know not just how and why members of Congress failed to take action to protect the youngsters entrusted to the care of the House of Representatives, but also why the FBI -- an agency charged with protecting the publie -- failed to safeguard other youngsters from a potential sexual predator. ‘Thank you for your attention to this matter. sincerely, /”// “yy Métanié Sloan Executive Director enels.Page | of | Melanie Sloan From: Melanie Sloan Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 5:08 PM To: SEEING bi ¢0v Subject: e-mails attached Attachments: 2510_001 pdf Melanie Stoan Executive Director Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 1400 Eye Street, N.W. Suite 450 Washington, D.C. 20005 202-408-5565 202-588-5020 (f) www citizensforethics.org This email and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipients and may be privileged or confidential. Any distribution, printing or other use by anyone else is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete this email and attachments. Thank you 10/2/2006MAY.29.2006 8:25AM 90.759 PZT of3 rene From; aa eT Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 To: Subject: Re: I Ok, Tam forwarding them now, Maybe it is just me being paranoid, but seriously, This ffeaked me out. But do tell me what you think about it all, [haye one friend thinking I am being paranoid and the other saying thet she thinks it is wierd that he even asked for my e-mail, much more what he said, On 8/31/05, SS SATS 102i house.gov> wrote: you can, forverd me the emails. From: marin ‘Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 11:12 PM To: Subject: Re: ‘Yeah, Ihave his personal e-mail. ‘What happened was I gave certain people Thank-you cards, you know? 1 gaye Foley ons because he | was a really nice guy to me and all. Then, he asked me to write my e-mail on the back of his. So I was like, "sure!" because of course I had no suspiscions. « yeah, SABRI wos just enother page he liked. I don't like @§@¥ at all. To me, he is the epitome of asc ist. For real, He had to be better than anyone at anything and was caught lying about a lot of stuff. But that's enough about Will, 10/17/2005iaY.29. a waY.29.2006 er23qm 10.753 E32 ofa 7 Id just ils it Zoot ust gd you the e-mails if you want, For some reason he likes to talk about riding his bike a lot. . . I don't want to try at find meaning in that. AHH! lol ‘This was the one he sent about Will: "I just emailed will, .hes snch a nice guy....acts much older than his age...and hes in really great ‘am just finished riding my bike on a 25 mile journey now heading to the gym.,..whats schoo! like for you this year?” And this is the one about send him a pic: ‘how are you weathering the hurricane...are you safa...send me an emeil pic of yau as well..." Sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick, .. Tallsed to another page that was here during the school year and first part of summer, Keriamna (her name) said that there Was @ congressman that did hit on pages. She didn't know his name. . Foley also asked me what I wanted for my birthday coming up. I told him it was in December before when he asked. I dunno, but I don't really think it is coming up any time soon. ... it's still August. Anyway. If yon can, mention this to Rodney so he is aware. I wonder what he would do about it. And if he wants fo,e-meil me or cell me, you can give him my info if he doesn't already have it. Well, It's late and I have freaked out enough tonight, lol. still haven't e-mailed him back, and I don't think I will for a while, if ever. What do you think about it all?? ‘Yeah, I am so excited about TARS. I introduced it to the student body today at Ciub Day and about 10/17/2005May.29.; a ze26 erase 10.759 phida of3 20-30 signed up. wO0tl!! 10/17/2005NAY.29.2086 @:2sAN 0.759 Fille. 5 OL —i i = ‘Subject: Fwd: (ne subject) Forwarded message <--—-——- From: Mafs4@aalcom Date: Jul 29, 2005 11:00 AM. Subject: (no subject) do I have the right emai Merk Foley ‘9/33/2005nev.29.2008 @rzaI n0.758. Pae.él of 1 —— From: ae ‘Subject: e-mall 2 glad yonr home safe and sound...we dont go back into session until Sept 5,,,6i ita a nice long break..1 ‘am back in Florida now...its nice here ..been raining today...dt sounds like you will have some fim over the next few weeks...how old are you now?. —_— 9/13/2005Nev.29.2006 srzam N0.759 Pag? of L Cpe Fro ‘Subject: e-mail 3 ‘Lam in North Caroline..gnd it was 100.in New Orleans...wow that's really hot...well do you miss DC...Its raining here but 68 degrees co who, can argue.did yoy have fin at your conference....what do you want for your birthday coming up...what stuff do you like to do 9713/2005MAY.29.2005 B:24eM NO.759 pagu8 of 1 From: ‘Subject: e-mail 4 am just finished riding my bike on 2.25 mile journey now. heading to the gym....whats school like for Tjust emailed will..hés such a nice guy....acts much older than his age...and hes in really great shape,..i ‘you this year? 9/13/2005mav.23.2006 B:24AM 0.759 Pap.9 of 1 as ‘Subject: ema § ‘how ate you weathering the hurricane,..are you saft....send me.an email pic of you as well.... ‘9/13/2005