Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish: The Clerk

Andrew Sullivan The Daily Dish: The Clerk

I know nothing about the details of the page scandal, except what's in the press and D.C. gossip, and have no idea who might have tried to prevent or not prevent Foley from continuing his predation. It is clear, however, that the House Clerk at the time, Jeff Trandahl, is close to the center of it. Today's Washington Post has an interesting story that suggests that Trandahl was a strict disciplinarian of the pages, took his responsiblities very seriously, did everything he could to stop Foley, and after being unable to get Hastert or Reynolds to stop it, quit:

Sources close to Fordham say Trandahl repeatedly urged the longtime aide and close family friend to confront Foley about his inappropriate advances on pages. Each time, Foley pledged to no longer socialize with the teenagers, but, weeks later, Trandahl would again alert Fordham about more contacts. Out of frustration, the sources said, Fordham contacted Palmer, hoping that an intervention from such a powerful figure in the House would persuade Foley to stop.

Now, a second House aide familiar with Foley and his actions told The Washington Post yesterday that "Scott Palmer had spoken to Foley prior to November 2005." The aide spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matter is now the subject of a criminal investigation and the House ethics committee inquiry.