FBI wants to question former page

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By AMIE PARNES
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — The FBI is seeking to question a former congressional page who has been identified in Internet reports as one of the teens who exchanged lewd online messages with former Congressman Mark Foley, the former page's lawyer said Wednesday.

The attorney for former page Jordan Edmund, now 21, said he had been retained only hours earlier and was "reviewing matters."

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Jordan Edmund, now 21, is wanted for questioning in connection with the Mark Foley Scandal

"I understand the FBI and the House Ethics Committee have an interest in the matter," said the lawyer, Stephen Jones. Asked if "the matter" relates to Foley, Jones said, "I would say the allegations concerning Congressman Foley which have surfaced."

The former page could become an important figure in the investigations following in the wake of the resignation of Foley, a powerful figure in the U.S. House of Representatives. The scandal, which has rocked Washington, also is threatening political support for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is second in the presidential line of succession behind Vice President Dick Cheney.

Edmund is working in Oklahoma for the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Ernest Istook Jr.

In a statement Wednesday night, Istook asked the media to leave Edmund alone.

"It was a complete surprise to learn this morning that one victim may be someone I know," Istook said. "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," Istook said. "This happened years ago when the victims were minors."

"The sad and sick behavior of Mark Foley was a total surprise to me when it was revealed," Istook said. "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."

Chris Casteel, Nolan Clay and Michael McNutt of the Daily Oklahoman contributed to this report.

October 5, 2006