From CNN Ticker Producer Alex Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Rodney Alexander, the Louisiana Republican who sponsored the former congressional page at the center of the scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley, told CNN he regrets his failure to protect the teenager and his family.

"My job was to do what I can to protect this young man and his interests, and I failed, and I apologize for that," Alexander told CNN's Sean Calebs.

Alexander said he notified the GOP leadership about Foley's questionable emails soon after he learned of their existence from a reporter last November. Alexander says he first contacted House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office after the reporter called, and then notified New York Rep. Tom Reynolds, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, two months later when a different reporter contacted his office.

Alexander said the GOP leadership decided not to file charges or take significant actions when they learned the page's parents wanted to keep the matter private.

"They (the GOP leadership) asked me if there was any kind of problem, if the parents were going to press charges," Alexander said. "I said no, the parents want this to go away. Their concern is to protect the child and we understand that concern. They weren't going to press charges so we didn't feel this was our job to press charges."

Alexander also said he does not think Hastert should heed calls to resign from the speaker post.

"I think Speaker Hastert is a great man. I think he is a fine gentleman," Alexander said. "I don't think he would let anything get out of hand if he felt like it were a problem."