Mark Adam Foley an American politician who had served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until 2006, had to resign in shame on charges of sending sexually explicit messages to minors. Ironically he was known as a crusader against child abuse and exploitation.

Foley was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 58 percent of the vote. There after he got re-elected after every two years. He was a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. In late 2000, Foley played a large role in aiding George W. Bush during the Presidential election.

While Foley’s popularity soared rumors surfaced that Foley was either gay or bisexual and was in a long-term relationship with a man. The story was published in local and gay press. Foley promptly held a press conference to denounce it. He stated that his sexual orientation was unimportant.

On September 28, 2006, ABC News reported that, in 2005, Foley had sent email messages from his personal AOL account to a former Congressional page, asking the page to send a photo. Another page reported of having received sexually explicit messages from Foley.

As a result of the disclosures, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement opened investigations of the messages to find possible criminal charges. Foley had to resign in shame. Foley said in a statement, “I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent”.