Wisconsin Democrats criticized Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, for his silence regarding Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, in light of the recent sex scandal involving former Florida Congressman Mark Foley.
Foley recently resigned from office after his explicit e-mails and instant messenger conversations with teenaged congressional pages came to light over the weekend. Hastert has been accused of knowing about Foley's overly friendly relationships with pages for years, but doing nothing.
In a press release Thursday, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin urged Green to call for Hastert's resignation and to return $17,000 in political action committee money he took from him.
Congressman Green should show some leadership, call on Speaker Hastert to resign and return Hastert's tainted money,"" said Joe Wineke, chair of the Democratic party of Wisconsin, in the press release.
""I'm glad the investigation is ongoing,"" Green said in a statement released to The Daily Cardinal. ""Anyone involved in covering up Mark Foley's disgusting criminal behavior should step down from their post immediately.""
Green's statement did not directly say whether he thought Hastert covered up Foley's alleged indiscretions or whether he would give Hastert's donations back.
Green, like many Republicans, returned money from Foley following the outbreak of the scandal.
""Green has proven to be a loyal Republican rubber stamp in Washington, choosing to stand with corrupt Republican leaders time and time again,"" Wineke said.
UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin said linking Green to the Foley scandal will not play an important role in the election this November.
""People will be voting much more on the basis of Wisconsin issues,"" Franklin said.
However, he said the Democrats will use this scandal to deepen controversy over Green's campaign money, of which he has already been ordered to return $467,000.
""The Democrats are keeping the broad question of Green's money and where it came from in front of voters,"" Franklin said.
Hastert has increasingly found himself at odds with fellow Republicans over the scandal. He formally took responsibility for it Thursday but said he would not step down from his position as Speaker of the House. Many Democrats, some Republicans and a recent Washington Times article have all called for Hastert's resignation.
