Foley, Mark, 1954-

Mark Adam Foley (born September 8, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 16th congressional district from 1995 to 2006.

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, he graduated from Lake Worth High School in Lake Worth, Florida and attended Palm Beach Community College. Working as a businessman, he soon entered politics, serving as a city commissioner in Lake Worth in 1977 and as vice mayor from 1983 to 1984. After losing the Democratic primary for Palm Beach County Commissioner in 1984, Foley aligned himself with the Republican Party, losing a 1986 bid for the Florida House of Representatives. In 1990, he was elected to the Florida House and in 1992, the Florida Senate.

Foley was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 58 percent of the vote. A moderate Republican. He spent most of his tenure in Congress as a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He was also the first public figure to imply that Vice President Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet. In late 2000, Foley played a large role in aiding George W. Bush during the Presidential election recount controversy in Florida. In 2006, Foley was a member of the Republican House leadership, serving as deputy whip. Foley's legislation to change federal sex offender laws was supported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, America's Most Wanted host John Walsh and a number of victims' rights groups. President Bush signed it into law as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

Foley resigned from Congress on September 29, 2006 acting on a request by the Republican leadership after allegations surfaced that he had sent suggestive emails and sexually explicit instant messages to teenage boys who had formerly served and were at that time serving as Congressional pages. After leaving Congress, Foley entered the real estate business in Palm Beach, Florida and came out publicly. In 2009, Foley debuted as host in his own radio show, "Foley on Politics," on Seaview AM 960 in North Palm Beach, Florida. After several years removed from the public eye, Foley resurfaced as a supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, appearing behind him in a crowd at one of his rallies.