WASHINGTON — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has upgraded its initial inquiry into a “full-fledged criminal investigation” of former congressman Mark Foley’s reported communications with teenage boys, a spokesperson told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers today.

“We were until recently conducting a preliminary investigation,” said Kristen Perezluha, an FDLE spokesperson. “Now we are conducting a full-fledged criminal investigation.”

Perezluha added that the agency had probable cause to continue with the investigation.

“Usually we establish if there is factual and credible information to start looking at it for criminal violations,” Perezluha added. “We’ve been assisting the FBI.”

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