Where is Leach's Leadership on Foley, Loebsack Asks

Press Release

Loebsack addresses Foley sacandal.

Democratic Congressional candidate Dave Loebsack is once again offering Republican incumbent Jim Leach the opportunity to demand accountability from Congressional leadership in the cover-up surrounding former Representative Mark Foley's interaction with Congressional Pages

"Today I am again asking Congressman Leach to hold his party leadership accountable for their inaction on this extremely serious matter," said Loebsack. "Any one who considers integrity to be a linchpin of his service, and campaign, should do no less," Loebsack continued. "Congressman Leach is missing in action on this important issue. We expect leadership. We deserve to know where he stands."

In a debate held Monday at the Iowa City Senior Center, Mr. Loebsack asked Mr. Leach to join him in calling for the resignation of members of Congress that had, or should have had, prior knowledge of Mr. Foley's inappropriate behavior. Rather than respond directly, Leach defended Hastert's handling of the issue and has since made no public comments on the matter.

Less than half-an-hour later, Mr. Leach was asked whom he would support for the Republican leadership if re-elected. Leach responded that he would still likely support Speaker Hastert's re-election to lead the Republican Party in House of Representatives.

Since the story broke on Friday, Congressman Leach has released statements on his Internet gambling bill and a new resort opening on Lake Rathbun, but nothing on the Foley scandal. News media reported this week that Congressional Pages had been warned about Foley for several years. As far back as July, the FBI received copies of Foley's e-mails to at least one young male Page, but took no action until ABC News broke the story. Republicans, Democrats, and even the Washington Times are calling for Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign.

Source