Foley Says He Was Abused by a Clergyman

(Hat tip: The Cafeteria is Closed)

Over the weekend, BillyHW noted the following in the comment boxes about Congressman Foley:

"Hey, to the congressman's credit, he didn't stoop to using the "I am a gay American" defense."

Referring, of course, to former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's lame-ass statement upon coming out of the closet.

Well, I hate to break it to you Billy, but Foley just about said the same thing yesterday:

Disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley said through his lawyer Tuesday that he was abused by a clergyman as a teenager [ED.: I call B.S.], but accepts full responsibility for sending salacious computer messages to teenage male pages.

Attorney David Roth said Foley was molested between ages 13 and 15 by a clergyman. He declined to identify the clergyman or the church, but Foley is Roman Catholic. [ED.: Yeah, it's all the Church's fault.]

He also acknowledged for the first time that the former congressman is gay, saying the disclosure was part of his client's "recovery." [ED.: Aw jeez, whatever.]

"Mark Foley wants you to know he is a gay man," [ED.: See, Billy, he is a gay American.] Roth told reporters in Florida as Republicans struggled to avoid election-year fallout from the congressman's behavior and sudden resignation.

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The lawyer said Foley, who is now in treatment for alcohol abuse, never had any inappropriate sexual contact with a minor. He said Foley was under the influence of alcohol when he sent many of the e-mails and instant messages. [ED.: I call B.S.]

(emphasis and editorial commentary added)