Florida District Endures Another Sex Scandal

Election year foibles mirror page-loving Foley he replaced

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2008 9:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – Just two years after Mark Foley resigned, Florida’s 16th district has another sex scandal on its hands, Time reports. Democratic Representative Tim Mahoney, who is fighting for reelection, has been implicated in an affair/payoff scandal, and investigators are wondering if he hushed his mistress with taxpayer dollars. Mahoney took Foley’s seat, vacant because of the congressman’s dalliances, on a platform of change.

The Florida GOP is already taking Mahoney to task, rushing an ad that mocks his 2006 campaign promise of “faith, family and personal responsibility.” Mahoney appeared to admit his transgression at a press conference, but denied any payoffs. He has asked the House Ethics Committee to look into the accusations; meanwhile, the FBI is investigating his finances.

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Mahoney on the trail. (AP Photo)

Florida Democratic Representative Tim Mahoney. (AP Photo)

House Democratic incumbents this year. (AP Photo)

Mark Foley, Mahoney's predecessor in all things. (AP Photo)

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I have no reason to believe for there to be an inkling of any impropriety...There's an agreement between the parties that limit what I can say with regards to the resolution. - Gary Isaacs, Mahoney attorney

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Florida District Endures Another Sex Scandal