****THIS IS A MAJOR STORY NOW, BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS SOME DESIGNED IT *****Did ABC NEWS’s Brian Ross commit a fraud? Who else is involved? *******Scroll to the bottom for updates as they happen****************

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a political conspiracy unravel as fast as this one that involves former representative Mark Foley.

Let’s recap.

1. On September 29th Foley is approached by ABC NEWS about salacious Instant Messages with a former page and abruptly resigns. Four days later he turns himself into rehab.

2. Through investigation by several bloggers, including yours truly, it is discovered that during the last few years, liberal watchdog group CREW may have had specific knowlede of the IM’s existance, and of Foley’s activities, and might have possibly been in possession corospondence between Rep. Foley and former page(s). Additionally a known “Republican Gay Outer”, Mike Rogers of Blog Active was found to have materially participated in the IM messaging of Foley and admitted to have been on a “campaign” to out Foley since at least as far back as March 2005, and specifically attempted to threaten Foley in January 2006, thus may be guilty of using threat or intimidation to influence a US Congressman’s vote on US legislation.

Yesterday Gateway Pundit uncovered that Mike Rogers had an a “partner” (although not known to be an accomplice at this point) in John Aravios of America’s Blog in a campaign against Foley as well. Gateway Pundit notes that there is no evidence that Aravios actually had specific evidence, but then holding evidence, and having knowledge of someone holding it are still crimes.

World Net Daily picked up on the story here, and puts together nicely what appears at this point to have been an orchestrated effort on the part of several leftwing activists to “pull the trigger” on this story just prior to midterm elections.

Additionally, while Mr. Foley appears by his resigning to have admitted to participating in IMing and emailing former pages, it’s not clear if all the recorded IM’s are authentic. The FBI, which is looking into the matter, as I mentioned here, will use specific forensic analysist to determine if in fact the corospondence discovered so far is in fact valid. Already it has been discovered that several IM’s may have in fact been tampered with.

At this point it’s not know the full involvement of those - or of others yet to be discovered - is. However, I do know that the specific focus of the FBI at this point is to determine who knew about Foley’s activities, when they knew it and specifically who withheld evidence in what may be a Federal Crime. Yet like in many investigations, there is sometimes the uncovering of other crimes that takes place. It should be said at this point that the attempt to attempt to extort or influence, or threaten a US congressman, in order to infuence legislation, or an election is a Federal Crime, and if in fact principals were involved in such an orchestrated plan it will be discovered.

Again, I must point out that even as a constituant of former respresentitive Foley, I detest his actions, and do not condone and accept them in anyway. In fact I support his prosecution if applicable laws have been broken. But again, those who particpated before the fact in the “outing” of Foley, seem to have had at this point specific knowledge of his activities and if proven at the least are guilty of conspriracy to withhold evidence, and obstruction of justice.

We shall see as the day(s) progress.

UPDATE: GOP bloggers covers the story.

UPDATE II: Promoted from the Comments, this note:

“FYI, you may have heard this, but Selena Zito with the Pittsburgh Tribune Review (I‚Äôm pretty sure that‚Äôs right) called in on a local (Birmingham, Alabama) talk radio program this morning. She said a major story might break today that a high ranking Democrat knew about the Foley matter and she hinted there was coordination with ABC, probably through George Stephanopoulos to release the story. (Not taking away from what a disgusting creep Foley is, but considering the reaction by the Dems to the story, this would look pretty bad for them IMO). Zito said she had a fewmore facts to verify, she does not want to report anything until she‚Äôs absolutely certain.

She also said other “outings” would most likely occur before the election and would further hurt the Republicans although she said Democrats would probably be affected as well.

I‚Äôm paraphrasing what she said, this is basically the gist of it. When the talk radio host asked when this might come out, she said he would be her second phone call.”

I’m getting other confirmations on this story, and it was also eluded to via Dick Morris on Hannity and Colmes last night.

More to come..

UPDATE III: Via quando net: Proof that John Aravosis of America’s Blog had possession of emails between Foley and victims MONTHS ago. Folks, if true that withholding evidence, aiding and abetting, and obstruction of justice. Possibly that explains the absence of Aravosis’s posts on Memeorandum today.

UPDATE IV: Round two from the uber Gay outing left?

UPDATE V: More of Mike Roger’s Blackmail.

UPDATE VI: Via Passionate America Blogspot, on a possible indentification of a recipient of Foley’s internet advances.

“Message from Wild Bill of Passionate America.

I have been contacted by Inside Edition and I might be on TV tonight. Blogger messed up while I was completing my breaking story and posted the unfinished post for about five minutes. I have pulled it down but it has already been seen by many people. The hate mails are rolling in and I expected that. I knew this story would anger a lot of people but it needs to be told. I am currently proof reading my story and I will probably post it without finishing it the way I wanted to. I will have to finish the story tonight. Thanks to the people that helped me and support me.

–Wild Bill–

UPDATE VII: Looks like another victim of Rogers has fallen, The chief of staff for Republican Congressman Tom Reynolds, Kirk Fordham, has resigned. MKH has the details.

UPDATE VIII: Passtionate America has the blockbuster post up on the identify of the teen Foley was IMing with.

“Jordan Edmund is 21 years old

Mark Foley is a scumbag! Mark Foley is a scumbag! Mark Foley is a scumbag!

Now that that is out of the way I will reveal how I (and a few others) discovered Jordan Edmund was one of the former house pages that participated in sexually explicit instant messages with Rep. Mark Foley. Also I will explain to you why I believe it necessary to reveal Jordan Edmund’s identity. You may not agree with my decision, but I hope to explain my reasoning by the end of this story.”

Read the rest. Wild Bill has more to come.

UPDATE IX: Gaypatriot on the David Corn threat.

UPDATE X: Drudge Report has the Passionate America story up.

More…

“A posting of an unredacted instant message sessions between Rep. Mark Foley and a former congressional page has apparently exposed the identity of the now 21 year-old accuser…

ABC RELEASED TRANSCRIPT OF ONE CHAT BETWEEN FOLEY AND A MAN WHO WAS 18 AT THE TIME OF THE INSTANT MESSAGE EXCHANGE…. NETWORK STATED THE MESSAGE WAS TO ‘UNDER AGE’ TEEN… DEVELOPING… “

Ah…Kaboom! Much more to come….

Good job Wild Bill!