Lawyer says Foley gay, was molested

WASHINGTON - Disgraced lawmaker Mark Foley's behavior was affected by alcoholism and childhood molestation, but he “never attempted to have sexual contact with a minor,” his lawyer said Tuesday in the first extensive defense of the Florida Republican's actions, which have rocked Congress and the GOP.

The comments came as embattled House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., turned to conservative talk radio hosts to defend his handling of the Foley matter, and rank-and-file House Republicans took a wait-and-see approach on their leader's fate. President Bush praised Hastert, but the House's second-ranking Republican challenged the speaker's account of how the Foley scandal unfolded.

Attorney David Roth told reporters in Florida that Foley was intoxicated when he sent lewd electronic messages to former House pages but was always sober when conducting official business during his 12 years in Congress. Roth said he could not explain new reports of an exchange in which Foley appeared to be having Internet sex with a youth while participating in a House roll call vote.