(October 5, 2006) — WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom Reynolds' chief of staff resigned Wednesday, saying he had informed House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office at least two years ago of "inappropriate behavior" toward congressional pages by disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley.

Kirk Fordham, a Greece native, said he will talk to the FBI today. Hastert's office disputes Fordham's account.

Fordham said he told Hastert's chief of staff, Scott Palmer, two years ago that he had received calls from the House Clerk's Office, which oversees pages, cautioning him that Foley was being too chummy with them. Fordham said he was seeking guidance on what to do.

Fordham, who worked for the Florida Republican for 10 years, said he also warned Foley not to be so friendly with the pages but worried that he was not taking it seriously.

Fordham said Palmer also talked to Foley, and informed Hastert, which Palmer denied.

Fordham said he went public with his story Wednesday after he learned the media was going to report he had tried to block a House page board investigation of Foley when Fordham still worked for the Florida Republican. Fordham called that allegation a lie.

"It is clear the Democrats are intent on making me a political issue in my boss's race, and I will not let them do so," Fordham said. He said Reynolds did not ask him to resign.

Fordham also came under attack Tuesday amid reports that he had tried to persuade ABC News not to publish the most explicit of Foley's computer messages on its Web site.

EKELLY@gns.gannett.com

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