Former congressman Mark Foley, the Florida Republican who resigned Friday, allegedly sent graphic e-mails and text messages describing sex acts to teen boys who had worked as congressional pages.

At least 40 states, including Florida, have laws against enticing children online into sexual activity, according to Mary Leary, a visiting law professor at Catholic University in Washington. "People are taking this more seriously," she says.

Leary would not comment specifically on Foley's case.

The laws vary, but all focus on using a computer to lure a minor into sexual conduct. No physical meeting with a child has to occur for an adult sender of a sexually explicit message to be prosecuted, says Flint Waters, a Wyoming police investigator who has posed as a minor online to catch pedophiles. The crime is a felony in most states.

A federal enticement statute carries a 10-year prison term and can require the perpetrator to register as a sex offender.

E-mail can also fall under obscenity law. Leary said material deemed "obscene" does not fall under constitutional protections of free speech.

The definition of "obscene" varies by state. A commonly used definition comes from a 1973 Supreme Court ruling that says such content appeals to the "prurient" interest, depicts sexual conduct in a "patently offensive way."

lol, they are shaking in their boots now,lol

This mofoer is blaming alcoholism for his behavior...Yeah right...Nice try perv

and now they are blaming the Democrats for knowing about it...HUUUUHHHHHHHHH???