U.S. reviews Rep. Kolbe (R-Ariz.)'s '96 trip that included 2 ex-pages
U.S. reviews Rep. Kolbe (R-Ariz.)'s '96 trip that included 2 ex-pages
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
Published October 14, 2006
WASHINGTON -- U.S. prosecutors in Arizona have opened a preliminary investigation into a camping trip taken by Rep. Jim Kolbe with two former pages and others in 1996, according to a law-enforcement official.
Kolbe (R-Ariz.) took the former pages as well as staffers and National Park Service officials on a raft trip in the Grand Canyon in July 1996, his spokeswoman said Friday.
An allegation related to the trip was given to the U.S. attorney's office in Phoenix. It was unclear whether it concerned any contention of improper activity by Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in the House.
The official described the inquiry as preliminary and far narrower in scope than the investigation into ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who resigned two weeks ago amid reports of sexually explicit messages sent to pages and former pages.
Meanwhile, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), chairman of the board that oversees the House page program, conceded Republicans mishandled the Foley matter. "I think there's stuff that everybody would have done differently" in hindsight, Shimkus said after testifying before the House ethics committee.
Kolbe spokeswoman Korenna Cline said the rafting party included five current staffers, two former pages and Kolbe's sister. She said she didn't know who the pages were or what year they worked for Kolbe, but they paid their own way.
Beth Kolbe, the congressman's younger sister who was on the three-night trip, said nothing inappropriate happened and that she hadn't heard of any concerns from anyone until the story of the camping trip appeared in the media.
"It's preposterous," she said of any suggestions that taking pages along was inappropriate.
She said the group included the then-deputy park superintendent and two rangers who served as guides and interpreters. She said it was too hot to sleep in tents, so everyone slept out in the open by the water.
At the time of the trip, Rep. Kolbe served on a subcommittee that oversaw the national park system.
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
Published October 14, 2006
WASHINGTON -- U.S. prosecutors in Arizona have opened a preliminary investigation into a camping trip taken by Rep. Jim Kolbe with two former pages and others in 1996, according to a law-enforcement official.
Kolbe (R-Ariz.) took the former pages as well as staffers and National Park Service officials on a raft trip in the Grand Canyon in July 1996, his spokeswoman said Friday.
An allegation related to the trip was given to the U.S. attorney's office in Phoenix. It was unclear whether it concerned any contention of improper activity by Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in the House.
The official described the inquiry as preliminary and far narrower in scope than the investigation into ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who resigned two weeks ago amid reports of sexually explicit messages sent to pages and former pages.
Meanwhile, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), chairman of the board that oversees the House page program, conceded Republicans mishandled the Foley matter. "I think there's stuff that everybody would have done differently" in hindsight, Shimkus said after testifying before the House ethics committee.
Kolbe spokeswoman Korenna Cline said the rafting party included five current staffers, two former pages and Kolbe's sister. She said she didn't know who the pages were or what year they worked for Kolbe, but they paid their own way.
Beth Kolbe, the congressman's younger sister who was on the three-night trip, said nothing inappropriate happened and that she hadn't heard of any concerns from anyone until the story of the camping trip appeared in the media.
"It's preposterous," she said of any suggestions that taking pages along was inappropriate.
She said the group included the then-deputy park superintendent and two rangers who served as guides and interpreters. She said it was too hot to sleep in tents, so everyone slept out in the open by the water.
At the time of the trip, Rep. Kolbe served on a subcommittee that oversaw the national park system.
posted by Carlos T Mock @ 9:18 AM
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