By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Congressman John Shimkus of Collinsville says that in the wake of U.S. representative Mark Foley's resignation, he will insure that the capitol's page program is safe from predators.
Foley resigned on Friday after allegations surfaced accusing the Republican of sending sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old congressional page. Shimkus, who runs the House page program, says Foley's actions, if true, are deplorable.
"When I learned of these instant messages last Friday from ABC news reports, the very thought of this behavior made me sick and Mark Foley should be ashamed," Shimkus said.
Democrats are raising the possibility that Republican leaders may have covered up the scandal.
And Shimkus' opponent in next month's election, Democrat Danny Stover, is calling for Shimkus to step down as chairman of the House Page Board.