Colo. Republicans defend Hastert

Rocky Mountain News

Published October 4, 2006 at midnight

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Colorado Republicans have not joined the calls for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign over his handling of the scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez said if there is evidence Republican leaders knew about Foley's transgressions, they should step down. But he said he has not seen any evidence that suggests they knew.

"I can say without reservation that whoever is implicated in this and they have not taken action when they should have and they're burying their heads in the sand and ignoring the facts and endangering children as a result, they need to go. I have not seen hard evidence that (Hastert) has done that," Beauprez said in a debate televised on KMGH-TV.

His opponent, Democrat Bill Ritter, said Hastert should resign. Ritter said Hastert was in charge and should take responsibility for what happened because he knew there were problems. "He sits at the top, and folks who knew about this should be held responsible."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, is "not calling for anyone's resignation," spokesman Carlos Espinosa said. "He said the person that should resign already has."

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, ignored the Hastert question in a release Tuesday but said she had "no tolerance" for people who engage in sexual activity with minors.

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