Reynolds deflects questions about aide's role

AMHERST - U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds Tuesday denied knowing what his top aide might have done on behalf of a disgraced lawmaker in the days before he resigned following revelations of sexually explicit messages sent to underage male pages.

Reynolds' chief of staff, Kirk Fordham, a past aide to former GOP Rep. Mark Foley of Florida, described his role in advising Foley as the scandal unfolded, but insisted he had “no inkling” of any sexual come-ons Foley made to teenage boys - and said Foley quickly admitted to him the messages were “probably” his.

Fordham spoke after his own part in the case came under attack from Democrats, and his boss Reynolds fielded questions in Buffalo about Fordham.