From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Brushing aside critics, Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Florida, argued Sunday that House GOP leaders moved quickly when it was revealed then-Rep. Mark Foley, R-Florida, had sexually explicit e-mail and IM conversations with House pages.

"Based on the information we have today, the speaker's office acted proactively, they acted aggressively, and within hours, within hours of the explicit e-mails coming to light, they demanded Foley's resignation," Putnam said in an interview on ABC'S "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

Putnam also noted that several media organizations as well as the FBI had received the initial "overly friendly e-mail" from Foley to a page, but decided not to report it or investigate it. Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-New York, was originally scheduled to appear on the show, but backed out at the last minute. Putnam took his place.