Criminal probe into Foley emails

Mark Foley denies ever having sexual contact with a minor

Authorities in Florida have opened a criminal inquiry into former Republican congressman Mark Foley over sexually explicit emails he sent to young men.

He resigned in September after it emerged he had sent lurid messages to teenagers on work experience.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has found the basis for a criminal inquiry, a spokeswoman said.

The scandal widened amid claims Republican leaders knew of Mr Foley's emails years ago, but did nothing.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) began investigating shortly after Mr Foley stepped down.

"It was a preliminary inquiry before but we found the basis to open up a criminal investigation, " said FDLE spokeswoman Kristen Perezluha.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also been examining the messages to see if any federal law has been broken.

The youngest recipient of the suggestive emails is said to have been 16 years old.

Political fallout

Mr Foley - through his lawyer - has denied any sexual contact with minors.

Florida law prohibits seducing or attempting to seduce a minor, although the term "seduce" is open to interpretation, the Associated Press news agency reports.

The scandal erupted a few week before the key mid-term congressional elections in the US, taking on a wider political significance.

Mr Foley's seat was won by Democrat Timothy Mahoney.

The ethics committee of the House of Representatives launched an inquiry into who knew what and when, amid claims that senior Republicans were aware of Mr Foley's behaviour but took no action.