West Palm Beach, Fla. ? Florida authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the sexually explicit computer messages that former Rep. Mark Foley sent to former male congressional pages.

The FBI is investigating whether Foley broke federal laws, and the House Ethics Committee is looking into whether senior GOP officials hid what they knew about the messages.

Foley resigned Sept. 29 after being confronted with the lurid communications.

Florida law prohibits seducing or attempting to seduce a minor.