Washington – Rep. John Salazar is calling on House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign over his handling of the scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley.
“We need new leadership in Congress – people who put protecting our children before power politics,” Salazar, D-Colo., said in a statement Wednesday.
Colorado’s Republican House members, along with the other Democrats, have not called for Hastert to step down.
Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., a candidate for governor, said he supports Hastert and other House leaders because there’s no proof of a coverup.
“The congressman feels that if Republican leadership has covered up Foley’s transgressions, then they should step down,” said Beauprez spokeswoman Corinne Hirsch.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., believes it’s too early to say whether anyone besides Foley should leave office.
Spokespeople for Reps. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., and Joel Hefley, R-Colo., did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.
Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., accused the Republican leadership of sweeping early warnings about Foley “under the rug,” but she hasn’t specifically called on Hastert to resign.
Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., has said the Justice Department should investigate not just Foley but what the House leadership knew about him.
