BOMBSHELL!!!! Palmer to Fordham: Hastert was told by Palmer!

[originalpckelly]

We all suspected this, but here is the confirmation. On Countdown, David Shuster's sources told him in today's meeting of the House ethics committee that Kirk Fordham (Foley's former Chief of Staff) did indeed tell Scott Palmer (Hastert's Chief of Staff) about Foley's activities with the pages. The bombshell came when Fordham testified about his follow-up conversation with Palmer: Palmer did indeed tell Hastert!

If the AP puts out a story with that as its features and it is proved by a second source, Hastert will have to resign.

Oh yeah, I forgot, Fordham is under legal jeopardy if he wasn't telling the truth in his testimony before the committee...in other words this is probably true (even without a second source)!

I suppose that the final nail in the coffin for Hastert will be when/if Palmer testifies before the committee, as he has to tell the truth about the meeting or he can go to jail.

[originalpckelly]

1. kick...

this can't be lost it is so big!

[David Dunham]

2. Palmer Could Have Lied to Fordham and in Fact Not told Hastert

Fordham sounds like a bit of a pain in the neck. I think Palmer could have lied to him about telling Hastert just to get him to back off.

[originalpckelly]

4. Yeah, I don't know if bringing up a child predator...

makes you obnoxious. He met with him twice, and this is a very serious issue.

[originalpckelly]

9. ...

Gotta keep that Joementum going

[Perky]

21. Precisely.. I don't Haster knew about it

He should have and if he did he is a goner....but I think he proabbly did not understand what was going on. Just a hunch. FOr the moment.

[greeneyedboy]

22. Republican staffer a lying PITA? possible, but i doubt he's lying now.

[Mr_Spock]

3. PUMMEL!!!

Pummel that fat ass 'till he finally tells the truth for once in his rotten RW life.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. So, The Ethics Committee Will Censure Hastert

They'll say something like...."you did a bad bad thing. Please don't do it again." It will be like a security guard with no weapon saying..."Stop. Or I'll say stop again."

How damaging would it be if Hastert had to resign within 25 days of the election?

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Stop! Or I'll say stop again.

Maybe it's an old line, but I never heard it before.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

17. Robin Williams....

He did a sketch, and was immitating a British cop. I've always remembered it.

Robin Rules of course.

[cynatnite]

6. Why hasn't Hastert been called in yet? n/t

[Monkeyman]

7. He with Dubba

[Journeyman]

10. Because he has denied it, protocol demands. . .

all underlings be questioned first, and then, and only when there's sufficient reason to question him (which today's testimony makes very likely), would the Committee call the Speaker before it.

[cynatnite]

16. Thanks for the explanation n/t

[Marrak]

8. Jabba first...

followed by the chimp?
<>

[originalpckelly]

13. Personally, he reminds me of a Vogon more:

[KansDem]

38. Man, that photo!

Bush looks like some kind of growth that needs to be removed.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Hastert will fall back on sudden amnesia. nt

[originalpckelly]

14. That really won't be a good excuse...

because he will still be blamed for forgetting being told about a child predator.

[Kierkegaard]

19. I'd hate to be sudden amnesia, then!

[JerseygirlCT]

LOL. How will I ever get to sleep after that? nt

[Kierkegaard]

25. Tylenol PM?

[JerseygirlCT]

28. You know, that knocks me out for DAYS. I'm such a lightweight! nt

[Oleladylib]

15. They need to listen closely to what Tom Reynolds is saying.

he says he told Hastert.

[karlrschneider]

18. Can anybody think of a reason for Fordham to be lying? I can't but

it's no mystery why Palmer and/or Hastert would...

[Monkeyman]

20. They will claim a Gay network already started

[karlrschneider]

23. Scarborough just did a couple minutes ago...

But anyhoo, why would that be a reason for Fordham to make this up? I don't get that...

[originalpckelly]

24. Fordham can be sent to jail if he is lying...

if he is under oath, than it is simple perjury, if he wasn't 18 USC 1001 (a,c) allows him to be prosecuted for making false statements to congress.

[karlrschneider]

27. Sure, I know...but -somebody- is lying.

[originalpckelly]

30. Well Palmer hasn't testified under oath...

if he does testify and it is a lie, then he may be sent to jail as well. Furthermore, if Palmer discounts Fordham's story, one of them is lying and one of them will be sent to jail.

It should be noted that staffers in Hastert's office confirmed Kirk Fordham's story.

[Gabi Hayes]

31. anybody remember John Dean vs. the White House?

that was the first thing I thought of: everybody in Hastert's corner is aligning themselves against them

I said this in another thread: Fordham has GOT to have some way to prove his side of the story. if not, who's going to believe him, AFA the investigative body goes?

or is he just a plant by, uh, somebody, that will make this all blow up in Leopoldian style?

[originalpckelly]

33. No, no, you forgot the 2nd independent source who confirmed the story...

The one who told the Washington Post, that Fordham and Palmer did have a meeting. The second source was from Hastert's office, so it is highly likely he knew what he was talking about. The only thing that second source wouldn't know is the bit about Hastert being told by Palmer.

So if Fordham isn't lying about having the meeting with Palmer, why would he lie about the fact Hastert knew?

[mojowork_n]

37. How could he not know?

I think I read somewhere (on Bartcop?) that Hastert's "room-mate" is Palmer. They spent a lot of time together.

Before he was involved in politics, "Coach" Hastert had some sort of publicly embarassing situation, that forced him to resign from coaching. The theory has been put forward that the reason * had Hastert named SpeakerOfTheHouse in the first place, was that he'd be someone verrrry easy to "control", with built-in blackmail leverage...

I'm very sorry I can't remember where I read that. In any event, it's looking more and more like it's about time for Hastert to step down, maybe it will all be common knowledge in a very short time.


(...By the way, what does the blue, rounded rectangle, with the white-circle-thing represent? I don't have a clue what it's supposed to mean.)

[originalpckelly]

42. You're telling me...

everyone seems to think Hastert didn't know, what the hell? Oh well, there is almost certainly proof that will come out in short time.

[femrap]

35. Fordham is NOT lying and for a very good reason...

he is gay and doesn't want gay people to be stereotyped as pedophiles. Pedophila is much more common with hetero males.

[chat_noir]

26. Hastert and *

[janx]

39. Wow--when were these pics taken?! n/t

[emmadoggy]

43. Geez! Look at that expression on Georgie's face!!

Look at how tightly his lips are pursed. Talk about your Lord PissyPants!!!

[Justice Is Comin]

29. Why was Palmer so frantically going through his emails at one o'clock

in the morning after the story broke if he knew Fordham had never told him?

Does the word start with an "s" ?

Of course, you realize there are two copies, the sender and the receiver. Plus almost certainly, on the server.

And Palmer you told Hasturd when he was on the prone position with you in bed as you were whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

You're going on the grill Palmer.

[Jack Rabbit]

32. Any responsible journalist would be able to report this

Kirk Fordham said under oath before the House Ethics Committee etc.

Of course, Hastert and Palmer could call him a liar.

Before the committee, they can always fein amnesia ("I don't recall").

[Nictuku]

34. K&R

[seemslikeadream]

36. third independent source

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/11/foley.fallout /

CNN was told by two sources familiar with Fordham's account and a third, independent source that Fordham maintains he arranged a meeting between Foley and Palmer about that report and accounts of other behavior Fordham found troubling

[robertpaulsen]

40. I smell a resignation!

[symbolman]

41. I love the Holidays

the trees turn color, the Pumpkins all abloom, and the SMELL OF GOP RESIGNATION IN THE AIR -- YES!