NJ Assemblyman Neil Cohen resigns amid child porn investigation

[Anonymous]

Cohen one of the priesthood linage.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/287/ ... 16246.html

New Jersey Assemblyman Neil Cohen has resigned from the Legislature, four days after it was reported that he's under investigation for suspected possession of child pornography.

The clerk of the Assembly received a one-sentence letter from Cohen just before 9:30 a.m. Monday. Cohen says his resignation is effective immediately, but does not offer any explanation.

Cohen has not been charged with a crime.

Colleagues who use the same legislative district office as the 57-year-old lawmaker said last week that they had told law enforcement authorities about images of child pornography found on his computer.

Cohen is a lawyer who has served in the Assembly in 1990-91 and continuously since 1994.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/0 ... signs.html

Veteran state Assemblyman Neil Cohen resigned this morning, less than a week after child pornography was allegedly found on his legislative office computer.

Cohen (D-Union) submitted his one-sentence resignation letter to clerk of the Assembly at 9:24 a.m., said Derek Roseman, spokesman for the Assembly Democrats.

It read: "Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, effective immediately."

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) said he accepted Cohen's letter of resignation.

"The allegations made against Assemblyman Cohen, if true, are sad and indefensible," Roberts said in a written statement.

"Assemblyman Cohen was a respected legislator who dedicated his life to the Statehouse and whose legacy would have been great. Unfortunately, all of that will now be forever overshadowed," Roberts said. "While law enforcement reviews these allegations, we sincerely hope he receives the help he desperately needs."

Cohen, 57, voluntarily sought psychiatric care last week after investigators seized his office computer.

Gov. Jon Corzine said the allegations against Cohen are "deeply disturbing."

"All of us who have worked with him are shocked by the reports. Child pornography reflects a horrible debasement of children that is totally intolerable," Corzine said. "Creating, distributing and using child pornography should be pursued vigorously by law enforcement wherever it is found."

A staffer in the Union Township office allegedly discovered a computer printout of a nude girl that was traced back to Cohen's computer. The two Democratic lawmakers who share the office with Cohen-- Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan-- then informed the Legislature's Office of Legislative Services, which notified the Attorney General's Office.

The two lawmakers issued a joint statement late Thursday confirming that they brought the matter to law enforcement.

The investigation is being handled by the State Police's official corruption unit and its digital technology investigations unit, law enforcement officials said. They are reporting directly to the Attorney General's Office and have been ordered to secrecy due to the sensitive nature of the case.

No charges have been filed against Cohen.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said Cohen made the right choice in resigning.

"Given the gravity of the allegations he faces, relinquishing public office is the right thing to do for his constituents. These are serious charges," DeCroce said. "The people of New Jersey deserve a Legislature that is untainted by scandal."

[Canard]

Not shocked.