Matthew Loraditch Sends His Statement About Mark Foley

Matthew Loraditch has released his statement. Thanks to Peach for finding this. Check this post for more information on Matthew Loraditch. Update: I have just spoke by email to Matthew Loraditch and he says that, "what was on the palmbeach post site was pretty much all of it." Here are some of the things Matthew had to say: "Firstly, as to the ABC "Warned" story, while I may have inadvertently used the word, "warned," in communication, I can assure you it was not intended. The fact of the matter is in an informal situation a supervisor mentioned that Foley was a bit odd or flaky and did not connote by tone or otherwise that he should be avoided. "Secondly as to talking out in general, . . . I don't think anyone can argue that protecting kids, pages, or whomever from sexual predators is anything but the most important of this whole saga. Nothing comes in front of the safety of the page program, not the page program, a member of congress, no one. "Thirdly, I have stressed several key points in my contact with media that all situations with Mr. Foley occurred after we had finished our service as pages. That if anything had happed while we were in Washington, it would have been dealt with. That I have full faith and trust that any of the supervisors and staff we worked with would have properly dealt with any situation like the current one. That the page program is one of the most wonderful and educational experiences a youth can have. "Fourthly, although not all of you know people who have had these horrible conversation with Foley, I do. And frankly that gives me all the more reason to speak out. . . . "Finally, if i have hurt or offended anyone, I am sorry. And I love my page friends and I cherish my relationships with the page program staff, however fracture some of this may have made them. I want you all to know that I truly believe that I'm doing the best that I can do." Update #2: I want to thank Matthew for coming forward with this information. Matthew, I am sorry you have been brought into the middle of this horrible situation, I believe you have done the right thing and I hope the FBI speaks with you and investigates the information you have that might lead to the prosecution of Rep. Mark Foley. Update #3: Big Dog sent this to me. Matthew had more to say to Scripps Howard News Service. Here is a quote: "I've known about them (messages) for several years now," he said Saturday. "It was more like, 'Hey, look at this,' " said Loraditch, 21, who served in the page program in the 2001-02 session. "I don't think the people in question felt that uncomfortable. It was more, 'Ooh, look at that creepy guy.' "It was definitely crossing-the-line stuff. The instant message stuff, and stuff I've seen and heard about, definitely couldn't be misconstrued" as merely "friendly" or innocent, Loraditch said.