Istook aide to cooperate with inquiry

Lawyer of former page sends email to blogger

Internet sleuthing led blogger to former page

House ethics committee to investigate

Democrats

Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Lisa Pryor said Thursday a former U.S. House page who may be part of the scandal involving a former Florida congressman is “an unfortunate victim of predatory behavior that’s been covered up by the (U.S. House) Republican leadership.”

“My heart goes out to him. He’s the victim. He’s not the story,” Pryor said of the former page who is working in the campaign of U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Warr Acres.

“This is about corruption. It’s about a cover-up almost as egregious as the initial behavior,” Pryor said.

Republicans

Oklahoma Republican Party chairman Tom Daxon on Thursday described the scandal involving former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley as a “horrible situation.”

“I think what Ernest (Istook) said was the appropriate thing ... that he (the former page) needs to be left alone,” Daxon said.

Daxon said he doubts there’s any truth to allegations that the U.S. House’s leadership knew anything about Foley’s activities before it came to light last week.

“Anyone who consciously aided and abetted that in any way ... they need to resign.”

John Greiner, Capitol Bureau