Foley: I was a teenage victim

Says abuse by clergyman not to blame for explicit e-mails to pages

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley said through his lawyer Tuesday that he was sexually abused by a clergyman as a teenager, but accepts responsibility for sending salacious computer messages to teen male pages.

Attorney David Roth said Foley was molested between ages 13 and 15. He declined to identify the clergyman or the church, but Foley is Roman Catholic.

He also acknowledged for the first time that the former congressman is gay, saying the disclosure was part of his client's ''recovery.''

''Mark Foley wants you to know he is a gay man,'' Roth said.

Foley ''does not blame the trauma he sustained as a young adolescent for his totally inappropriate e-mails'' and instant messages, Roth said. ''He continues to offer no excuse whatsoever for his conduct.''

Foley represented parts of Palm Beach County for 12 years until he resigned Friday after being accused of sending lurid Internet messages to boys who served as pages on Capitol Hill.

The lawyer said Foley never had any inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.

The communications were first reported last week by ABC News, which released more instant messages Tuesday that suggest Foley interrupted a vote on the House floor to have online sex.

AP

Rep. Mark Foley had online sex during a 2003 House vote with a student who had worked as a page, ABC News reported Tuesday. Here are some of the messages the network says it obtained:

Maf54: I miss you

Teen: ya me too

Maf54: we are still voting

Maf54: you miss me too

(The exchange continues in which Foley and the teen appear to describe having sexual orgasms.)

Maf54: ok..i better go vote..did you know you would have this effect on me

Teen: lol I guessed

Teen: ya go vote...I don't want to keep you from doing our job

Maf54: can I have a good kiss goodnight

Teen: :-*

Teen:

Foley also invited the teen and a friend to come to his house, ABC said:

Teen: are you going to be in town over the veterans day weekend

Maf54: I may be now that your coming

Maf54: who you coming to visit

Teen: haha good stuff

Teen: umm no one really

Maf54: we will be adjourned ny then

Teen: oh good

Maf54: by

Maf54: then we can have a few drinks

Maf54: lol

Teen: yes yes ;-)

Maf54: your not old enough to drink

Teen: shhh...

Maf54: ok

Teen: that's not what my ID says

Teen: lol

Maf54: ok

Teen: I probably shouldn't be telling you that huh

Maf54: we may need to drink at my house so we don't get busted