Hastert apologizes but refuses to resign
The House ethics committee opened an expansive investigation into the unfolding page sex scandal Thursday, approving nearly four dozen subpoenas for witnesses and documents as House Speaker Dennis Hastert held his ground against pressure to resign. “I’m deeply sorry this has happened and the bottom line is we’re taking responsibility,” Hastert, R-Ill., told at a news conference outside his district office.
TPM Muckraker has a transcript and video.

Thanks, Denny!
Internal Poll Suggests Hastert Could Devastate GOP
“The data suggests Americans have bailed on the speaker,” a Republican source briefed on the polling data told FOX News. “And the difference could be between a 20-seat loss and 50-seat loss.” Most GOP lawmakers have stood by Hastert, pending a full airing of the facts in his handling of the Mark Foley affair, in which the former Florida representative was caught exchanging salacious messages with teen pages in Congress. The new polling data, however, suggests that many voters already have made up their minds.

WORST IDEA EVER!
Roll Call
FREEH WILL LEAD PAGE PROBE: Sources said Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will announce today that former FBI Director Louis Freeh will oversee an investigation of the House page program, which has been rocked in recent days by the scandal surrounding resigned Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.). Hastert is expected to hold a news conference in Illinois this afternoon.
CNN said that Nancy Pelosi objected, so Hastert didn’t announce this in his press conference.  According to Think Progress, MSNBC also reported that Pelosi blocked the Freeh appointment.