Ethics panel investigates Foley

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives ethics committee opened an investigation Thursday into former Rep. Mark Foley's relationship with underage pages.

The Washington Post reports the panel issued a dozen subpoenas but Chairman Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., refused to say whether House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was among those commanded to appear.

Hastings said the investigation would be followed wherever the evidence leads to determine whether there was any wrongdoing by anyone other than Foley, R-Fla.

Foley quit his office last Friday after ABC revealed a series of sexually explicit e-mail and instant messages he sent to pages.

Hastings will lead the investigation. Other members of the subcommittee are Reps. Howard L. Berman, D-Calif.; Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio; and Judy Biggert, R-Ill.

"Like all Americans, we are both appalled at the revelations of highly improper communication between (Foley) and a young man who came to know Mr. Foley while working here in the Capitol as a congressional page," Hastings said, reading a joint statement issued by him and Berman.

"Simply put, the American people, and especially the parents of all current and former pages, are entitled to know how this situation was handled. And we are determined to answer their questions."