This is a
published version of basically what
Rich Miller wrote a couple of days ago. I don't know the website it is coming from, but the story is pretty much just facts.
Lynn Sweet of the Sun Times wrote pretty much the same thing.
While it is important that we acknowledge the rumor for what it is, a rumor, it is also important to note that Weller is no saint, even if his conduct with pages has been wholly appropriate. More below the fold.
Steven Shearer said the congressman [Weller] was not prepared to reveal the identity of the youth, the timing, nor the identity of the lawmaker, but felt confident that a former page or intern was "inappropriately invited to a social function by another congressman."
Weller and his staff learned of the alleged incident through conversations with reporters and others Thursday.
...
Shearer said Weller's name came up before the page inquiry within the last week, but as far as the congressman knows, solely in the context that he was the sponsor of the page or intern in question.
He said neither the congressman nor his office ever knew of the invitation, what became of the incident, and have yet to confirm the identity of the former page or intern.
He said the congressman would provide whatever information might be asked of him by the Page Board or the committee, and stressed that neither had contacted Weller for any reason.
"When it comes down to it, we are very, very confident that's the extent of anything associated with Congressman Weller," Shearer said.
It is truly sad that another page was subject to inappropriate behavior, no matter who the perpetrator was. Weller has come out strongly saying that he was not involved in an inappropriate action. We all hope that is true.
Weller, meanwhile, is still deserving of an early retirement from Congressional life. Kankakee Voice has written on Weller's problems and continues to do so. The Chicago Tribune, who's editorial page's Republican leanings are well-established, has refused to endorse Weller.
They wrote:
Republican Rep. Jerry Weller needs to recognize that he has a vast conflict of interest: His wife is a leading member of Guatemala's Congress and the daughter of a former Guatemalan dictator who has been accused of war crimes, yet Weller continues as vice chair of a House subcommittee on the western hemisphere. He says it's enough that he recuses himself on matters that deal specifically with Guatemala. But the committee deals with many regional matters that have potential impact on that nation.
John Pavich is running against Jerry Weller. You can volunteer or contribute.