The Buffalo News covered several aspects of the growing Foley scandal today.  Congressman Tom Reynolds, who chairs the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), was one of the first members of House Republican leadership to be informed about the Foley emails.  The congressional district that Reynolds represents includes the suburbs and exurbs of Buffalo.

The paper includes an article on the failure of House Republican leadership to respond in a manner appropriate to the situation. That paper interviewed several experts on child safety and sexual predators:

But critics described the lack of response as unacceptable, especially given the possibility that other children could have been endangered.

"This is something that should have been referred to the district attorney's office immediately," said Sharon Sisti, a clinical social worker and assistant professor of human services at Hilbert College. "Our responsibility as a society is to protect all kids, not just one."

Dr. Timothy M. Osberg, a psychologist and professor of psychology at Niagara University, said he viewed the situation as similar to that of reporters who are required by law to report evidence of child abuse.

The e-mail, he said, coupled with the boy's reaction to it, "should send up red flags."

And "there's a call to action" for an adult who becomes aware of the situation, he added.

Although not overtly sexual, the e-mail echoed the manner in which many sexual predators try to gain the confidence and friendship of a targeted victim, child welfare advocates said.

"It's a way for the perpetrator to test the waters," Sisti said. "Even if there isn't enough to warrant any kind of legal steps, certainly it may fall within the realm of ethics violations."

The safety of the children was obviously not the top concern of the House GOP leaders. That's particularly ironic since the House passed a bill on July 25, 2006 dealing with child sexual predators.  Apparently, no one in the House leadership applied any of their knowledge of that legislation to Foley situation.   

CREW's Melanie Sloan, who upon receiving the emails earlier this summer immediately sent them to the FBI, was also interviewed for this article:

But Foley's e-mail last year alone was enough for House leaders to relay the matter to authorities, said Melanie Sloan, a former prosecutor of sex crimes against children and the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

"That nobody thought to go anywhere to protect kids or discipline Foley is shocking," Sloan said. "Anybody who knew should have done something."

Everybody on Capitol Hill who knew should have done something. They did nothing.