The Washington Times has called for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign, criticizing him for inadequately addressing the allegations surrounding former Congressman Mark Foley's inappropriate communications with teenage House pages. This call for resignation marks a significant shift from the Times' typically conservative stance, aligning with some Democratic voices. Hastert's refusal to step down is seen as detrimental to Republican candidates in the upcoming mid-term elections, as media coverage is likely to highlight his association with the scandal. Reports indicate that Foley's misconduct had been ongoing for at least five years, with warnings issued to pages about him. Additionally, other pages are beginning to come forward with allegations against additional members of Congress. Hastert's establishment of a hotline for reporting misconduct is viewed as a strategic move to address the issue, although it raises concerns about the potential for politicizing child sexual abuse.
