Roy Moore Poses Significant Threat to Youth in U.S. Senate Page Program
Washington,
December 11, 2017
Washington, D.C. — In response to concerns over Roy Moore’s presence in the U.S. Senate and the threat he represents to young people who participate in the U.S. Senate Page Program, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) wrote a letter to the Senate Sergeant at Arms to determine what preventative steps are being taken to protect Senate Pages from predatory conduct.
As Congresswoman Moore writes, “It has come to light that Roy Moore is alleged to have had a number of inappropriate relationships with at least ten minors. The threat Roy Moore posed to minors was so notorious and troublesome that in 1979 he was banned from the Gadsen Mall and YMCA for soliciting sex from minor girls. In addition to initiating a sexual encounter with a fourteen-year-old when he was a thirty-two-year-old district attorney, Moore pursued relationships with three minors/young women between the ages of sixteen to eighteen during this time.
“I believe my fears are well founded. We have seen Members of Congress abuse the Congressional Page Program. You will recall that in 2006, former Republican Representative Mark Foley resigned after sending suggestive emails and text messages to male Pages. Unfortunately, this was a contributing factor in the then elimination of the House Page Program. We need to be vigilant stewards of these children going forward.”
Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper
U.S. Capitol
Room S-151
Washington, DC 20510
RE: Safeguarding the Youth in the U.S. Senate Page Program
Dear Senate Sergeant at Arms,
I write you today to share my urgent concern regarding the threat to the safety of the young men and women working in the United States Senate Page Program if Roy Moore becomes the U.S. Senator to Alabama.
It has come to light that Roy Moore is alleged to have had a number of inappropriate relationships with at least ten minors. The threat Roy Moore posed to minors was so notorious and troublesome that in 1979 he was banned from the Gadsen Mall and YMCA for soliciting sex from minor girls. In addition to initiating a sexual encounter with a fourteen-year-old when he was a thirty-two-year-old district attorney, Moore pursued relationships with three minors/young women between the ages of sixteen to eighteen during this time.
As you know, for more than 180 years, the Congressional Page Program has provided a unique, life changing opportunity for young people interested in learning about the legislative process. These students are often high school juniors and seniors as young as 16 years of age. My state of Wisconsin currently has one Page serving the U.S Senate this year, and it is a program to which the state has been a proud contributor for many years. Serving as a Page can be an exciting and enriching experience for these students as it provides them unique insight into our legislative process.
However, being away from home also puts these young people in a very vulnerable position. They are away from family and their normal support structures. They are thrust into an adult world and an unfamiliar city. The nature of life on Capitol Hill necessitates long hours in close proximity to lawmakers and staff that can create power dynamics of which young people are not fully aware. It would be unconscionable for Congress to not be vigilant and proactive in taking precautions to safeguard these children given the well sourced allegations against Roy Moore.
I believe my fears are well founded. We have seen Members of Congress abuse the Congressional Page Program. You will recall that in 2006, former Republican Representative Mark Foley resigned after sending suggestive emails and text messages to male Pages. Unfortunately, this was a contributing factor in the then elimination of the House Page Program. We need to be vigilant stewards of these children going forward.
In order to meet our obligation, I urge you to be proactive in protecting Senate Pages and that is why I am asking if you are taking steps to prepare the Page Program for the possible election of Roy Moore. I would like to know what preventative steps are being undertaken to safeguard Senate Pages from predatory conduct of U.S. Senators and Senate staff. The U.S. Congress has an obligation to keep these students safe especially in light of known potential harm.
Thank you for your service. I look forward to reading your response.
Sincerely,
Gwen S. Moore
Member of Congress
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