New York ? ABC News’ fleeting, inadvertent publishing of a computer screen name enabled a blogger to track down and make public the identity of a former congressional page who traded salacious messages with former Rep. Mark Foley.

In breaking the story of the now-burgeoning scandal, the network Sept. 29 posted on its Web site a series of instant message exchanges between Foley and the teenager, Jordan Edmund, now 21. Edmund’s name was not included.

But in one exchange the network inadvertently left his screen name on. It was quickly discovered and removed, replaced by a version with the name redacted. But a blogger was able to retrieve the deleted file, go on a computer detective mission and uncover the former page’s identity.

Edmund, who now works on Republican Rep. Ernest Istook’s campaign for Oklahoma governor, has not responded to requests for an interview.

In a news conference Thursday, Istook said the former page would cooperate with investigators and asked reporters to leave him alone.