Breaking news: GOP House exonerates itself of any legal guilt for Foley scandal

[Sauron]

Did you expect otherwise? Yesterday a poll reported that public approval of Congress had fallen to only 17%.

Seventeen percent.

Wonder why?

House Ethics finds GOP leaders negligent

Republicans did not break any rules in Foley-Congressional page scandal

WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee has concluded that Republican leaders did not break any rules in handling ex-Rep. Mark Foley's improper advances to former male pages but were negligent in protecting the teenagers, a congressional aide said Friday.

The committee released its findings Friday.

The aide, who was not authorized to be quoted by name, was made aware of the committee's findings.

"The Republicans did not break rules but were negligent in protecting the pages," the aide said.

Committee leaders had said in early October the investigation would be finished in weeks, not months, and members have said privately they did not want to carry the matter over until next year.

The findings would have had far greater impact if Republicans had retained control of Congress because questions were raised over the lack of strong action by Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and his top aides.

[Stephen Maturin]

Here's hoping they meant "negligent in failing to protect the pages," but with this crowd, who knows?