Rep. Bill Foster, the Illinois Democrat who went unaccounted for five days, now claims he was upfront with his constituents about his mid-August disappearance. However, the public record tells a different story. Foster, as you may recall, was on a fact-finding mission to Israel in August, but mysteriously returned to the United States several days after the rest of his delegation.
NRCC Response:
“Looks like Bill Foster didn’t do a lot of fact-finding in Israel. Foster claims that his staff was honest about his whereabouts, but the bottom line is they lied, claiming he was still in Israel when he was actually in Jordan. Instead issuing endless excuses, Foster needs to own up to his mistake and apologize to his constituents.” – Tom Erickson, NRCC spokesman
“U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and his staff said they were up front with constituents last month when asked where the Congressman was during a trip he took to the Middle East in August.” (Kate Schott, “Foster says he was up front about trip,” Kane County Chronicle, 9/12/09)
Press Secretary Says Foster Will Return From Israel On August 21. “McDonald said Foster will return from Israel on Aug. 21 and will at some point hold a telephone town hall meeting.” (Steve Lord, “Hot about health care, but Foster on trip,” Geneva Sun, 08/14/09)
Leaving Israel Behind, Foster Heads To Jordan For A “Working Honeymoon.” “After the Israel trip ended, [Foster] and his wife took a belated four-day honeymoon trip to Jordan. The honeymoon was a working vacation. While Foster was there, he and his wife, both particle physicists, toured the SESAME synchrotron light source laboratory.” (“Missing facts about 'missing' rep,” Courier News, 9/9/09)
“All staff in Foster's office were told to tell constituents where he was, whether it was Israel at first and then in Jordan during his honeymoon, O'Brien said. They also would tell when he was expected back in the states, she said.” (Kate Schott, “Foster says he was up front about trip,” Kane County Chronicle, 9/12/09)
Press Secretary Says Foster Will Return From Israel On August 21. “McDonald said Foster will return from Israel on Aug. 21 and will at some point hold a telephone town hall meeting.” (Steve Lord, “Hot about health care, but Foster on trip,” Geneva Sun, 08/14/09)
Leaving Israel Behind, Foster Heads To Jordan For A “Working Honeymoon.” “After the Israel trip ended, [Foster] and his wife took a belated four-day honeymoon trip to Jordan. The honeymoon was a working vacation. While Foster was there, he and his wife, both particle physicists, toured the SESAME synchrotron light source laboratory.” (“Missing facts about 'missing' rep,” Courier News, 9/9/09)
“’We were being up front with people where he was the whole time,’ O'Brien added.” (Kate Schott, “Foster says he was up front about trip,” Kane County Chronicle, 9/12/09)
Press Secretary Says Foster Will Return From Israel On August 21. “McDonald said Foster will return from Israel on Aug. 21 and will at some point hold a telephone town hall meeting.” (Steve Lord, “Hot about health care, but Foster on trip,” Geneva Sun, 08/14/09)
Leaving Israel Behind, Foster Heads To Jordan For A “Working Honeymoon.” “After the Israel trip ended, [Foster] and his wife took a belated four-day honeymoon trip to Jordan. The honeymoon was a working vacation. While Foster was there, he and his wife, both particle physicists, toured the SESAME synchrotron light source laboratory.” (“Missing facts about 'missing' rep,” Courier News, 9/9/09)
To find out what other facts Rep. Foster may be hiding, call (202) 225-2976.
