House Investigators Question Foley Aide

By LARRY MARGASAK

WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Mark Foley’s chief of staff spent nearly five hours before the House ethics committee Thursday, questioned by investigators who are trying to learn how the Florida Republican was able to make inappropriate approaches to male pages for years.

Kirk Fordham, who said he took complaints about Foley’s conduct to Speaker Dennis Hastert’s chief of staff in 2002 or 2003, would not comment after emerging from his closed-door testimony. Hastert’s office has said it learned of Foley’s conduct only last fall, and the speaker has said he first was notified in late September this year.

Fordham’s lawyer, Timothy Heaphy, said after the testimony, "Kirk has been forthcoming with them. He has been consistent in his accounts of these events when he talked to the FBI and today met with the ethics committee.

"He’s been truthful and cooperative and will continue to be throughout this and other investigations."

Heaphy said Fordham had been asked not to comment publicly on the substance of the inquiry because of the continuing investigation.