What happens on the internet, stays on the internet, for everyone to see!

New York Daily News – September 30, 2006:

A Republican congressman from Florida who crusaded against Internet sexual predators resigned yesterday amid allegations he sent raunchy online messages to boys who work as congressional pages.

“I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida,” Rep. Mark Foley said in a statement.

The statement unfortunately included his official congressional logo, which prominently displays a snapshot of Foley surrounded by a crowd of boys.

Foley’s problems began this week when a teenager who worked as a page for a different congressman complained about e-mails Foley sent him last year, when he was 16, asking for his picture and wondering what he wanted for his birthday.

Foley insisted there was nothing inappropriate about the messages and blamed a smear campaign by his Democratic opponent, who is 13 points down in the polls.

But when ABC News obtained explicit instant messages that Foley allegedly sent to other teenagers who worked on Capitol Hill, the congressman abruptly quit in a letter to House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

Excerpts of the instant messages:

XXXX: ugh tomorrow i have the first day of lacrosse practice
Maf54: love to watch that
Maf54: those great legs running

XXXX: my last gf [girlfriend] and i broke up a few weeks ago
Maf54: good so your getting horny

XXXX: brb [be right back] …my mom is yelling
Maf54: ok
XXXX: back
Maf54: cool hope she didnt see anything

XXXX: ya slow things down a little im still young…like under 18 dont want to do anything illegal…im not 18 till feb 23
Maf54: i know..
Maf54: nothing will happen
Maf54: just dreaming