No Criminal Case Against Former Rep. Mark Foley

Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida who was accused of sending salacious emails to underage staffers will not face criminal charges.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also said in an investigative report that too much time had passed since the February 2003 messages to bring any charges.

"There did not appear to be probable cause that a crime was committed," the report said.

The report also noted that a federal investigation was closed in July. A senior Justice Department official confirmed Friday that prosecutors advised Foley's attorney in July that the former congressman would not face federal charges. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Foley's salacious emails caused quite the stir, and was one of several factors leading to the Republicans losing the House in the 2006 midterm elections. Republicans dithered and refused to take action against Foley.

Watch for history to repeat itself as Democrats continue to protect Rep. Charles Rangel and his chairmanship of the Ways and Means committee even as Rangel admits to shorting the IRS of $5,000 and revelations that the true extent of his tax evasion is likely many times that amount.