CPJ member Dan O'Rourke wrote the following which was published in the October 13, 2006 issue of the Buffalo News.

Buffalo News
Letter to Editor:

Congressman Thomas Reynolds’ news conference, television advertising and public statements on the cover-up of Congressman Mark Foley’s predatory behavior towards teenaged pages are self-serving and deceptive.

His initial news conference at which he surrounded himself with young children was especially insensitive.  It reminded me of Hamas using human shields to protect their rocket sites. Even when the press asked him to excuse the children, he refused.

Now Reynolds is running $200,000 worth of TV ads apologizing for not doing more. His apologies do not ring true. Are they paid for in part from money obtained from former Congressman Foley?

Reynolds’ response to many of the questions posed by the Buffalo News is that  “he does not recall.” That’s a lawyer-like evasion.  Does he expect us to believe him?  He knew.  And he protected the Republican Party not the teenaged pages.  He’s a major player in a corrupt system and does not deserve to be reelected to Congress.

Daniel C. O’Rourke