The political landscape in Maine’s gubernatorial race is being stirred by echoes of past Republican scandals involving figures like Dennis Hastert and Mark Foley.
On September 9, the Portland Press Herald published an opinion piece written by Anita Charles, the sister of Republican candidate Bobby Charles. In her op-ed, Anita criticized her brother’s historical ties with Hastert and declared her support for his Democratic opponent, Hannah Pingree.
“Bobby was a close friend and colleague of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert from 1995 to 1999,” Anita stated. “He praised Hastert and benefited from their relationship as he built his career in Washington. Hastert later admitted to sexually abusing children and was convicted of illegally paying hush money to conceal that abuse. Bobby has never publicly renounced that association.”
In a newly surfaced op-ed, it was revealed that Bobby Charles previously defended Hastert’s management of the situation involving Florida Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned from Congress in 2006 after being exposed for sending inappropriate emails to underage, male pages. The report can be found on NPR.
The careers of Charles, Hastert, and Foley intersected during the 1990s. At that time, Charles was a congressional staffer when Hastert served as House Republican Chief Deputy Whip. Charles later held the position of Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs between 2003 and 2005 while Hastert was Speaker. Foley’s congressional tenure began in 1994.
After Foley’s resignation, the House Ethics Committee investigated the Republican leadership’s handling of the case. It discovered that Hastert’s chief of staff and chief counsel were aware of the allegations against Foley, yet the Speaker’s office took no action. Hastert denied any misconduct.
Ohio Rep. John Boehner informed the Washington Post that he had personally informed Hastert of Foley’s alleged misconduct in the spring of 2006. Boehner claimed Hastert assured him the issue was being addressed, but no steps were taken until the press exposed the scandal months later.
Amid calls for Hastert to resign, Bobby Charles authored an op-ed for the Washington Times in his defense. “His wife is a teacher, his brother is a teacher and he has devoted more time to saving kids and families from the scourge of illegal drugs than any member of Congress,” Charles wrote.
Charles highlighted Hastert’s past as a high school teacher and wrestling coach in the 1960s and 70s, noting that all of Hastert’s alleged victims were on the wrestling team.
“Mr. Hastert taught school for 16 years, served as a revered high school wrestling coach, and was tapped for Congress precisely because of his uncompromising commitment to education and kids,” Charles remarked, ultimately describing Hastert as a symbol of “Norman Rockwell’s America.”
After his sister’s op-ed was published, Bobby Charles held an emotional press conference, denying any prior knowledge of Hastert’s misconduct and strongly condemning child sex offenders.
“I think it’s monstrous, and I think people against whom these charges are proven need to go to prison and stay there forever,” Charles declared.
A spokesperson for Charles’ campaign reinforced this sentiment, stating that he was unaware of Hastert’s misdeeds. The campaign did not address questions regarding the Foley situation or the Washington Times op-ed.
Campaign manager Dale Crafts, Jr. commented, “Bobby has previously said publicly that he was never aware of any wrongdoing regarding Hastert and he stands by what he’s said that his conduct was monstrous.”
There is no evidence suggesting any connection between Charles and Hastert after 2014. Hastert’s misconduct was publicly disclosed in 2015.
A recent YouGov poll indicates that Hannah Pingree currently leads Bobby Charles by 11 percentage points.
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