Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert is dismissing calls for his resignation amid mounting criticism of his handling of the Mark Foley scandal. Foley is the Republican Congressman from Florida who stepped down Friday after it was revealed he had sent sexually explicit Internet messages to underage boys that used to work as pages on Capitol Hill. On Tuesday, House Majority Leader John Boehner reversed an earlier denial he had talked to Hastert about Foley earlier this year. Boehner now says he raised the issue with Hastert and was assured it was being addressed. Boehner added: “In my position, it is in his corner, it is his responsibility.” Hastert is receiving backing from the White House. At a campaign appearance in California, Bush said he is confident Hastert will handle the issue and ignored a question asking whether he thought the speaker should resign. The President also made his first comments on Foley’s resignation.

• President Bush: “I was dismayed and shocked to learn about Congressman Foley’s unacceptable behaviour. I was disgusted by the revelations and disappointed that he would violate the trust of the citizens who placed him in office.”