N.J. Legislative Computers to Get Porn Filters

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  -- A day after it was discovered a veteran assemblyman is being investigated for possession of child pornography, legislative leaders sought to install filters to block inappropriate material from being viewed on legislative computers.


Steve Sandberg reports

The four leaders released a statement Friday saying they want ``the most aggressive Internet filtering software available on all computers in the Legislature.''

The move comes after state investigators seized computers from Assemblyman Neil Cohen.

``We recognize that individuals intent on breaking the law and abusing public resources will still seek ways to do so, but this action is aimed at doing everything we can to prevent something of this nature from happening in the future,'' said a joint statement from Democratic Senate President Richard J. Codey, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., Republican Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce.

Albert Porroni, state Office of Legislative Services executive director, said such software can be ``a very specialized kind of thing.''

``It has to be dealt with carefully so that you don't block a site that you've got to do legitimate research on,'' Porroni said. ``But nonetheless we are going to address it.''

The state Attorney General's office Wednesday seized computers from Cohen after staffers in his Union County office discovered the images, then told Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, who share that office.

Cryan said they then told state legislative officials, who notified the Attorney General's office. Cohen hasn't been charged.

DeCroce, R-Morris, said Cohen's behavior, if proven, ``represents one of the most deplorable acts committed by a public servant.''

``One of our most important obligations as a society is to protect those who are most vulnerable, particularly our youth,'' DeCroce said. ``To prey on those who are essentially defenseless is contemptible.''

He noted Cohen took an oath to uphold the state Constitution and laws.

``And if he has violated that oath, not only must he resign from office, but he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,'' DeCroce said.

Lee Moore, spokesman for Attorney General Anne Milgram, said the office had no comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office also declined to comment.

Cohen, 57, a Democrat from Roselle, hasn't answered calls to his cell phone nor responded to text messages. He's been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.

Rosa Sanchez, who works at a bakery across the street from Cohen's office, said Cohen regularly came in for coffee.

``We never saw anything strange,'' Sanchez said. ``We're really surprised that it happened. It's a shame if it's true.''

Cohen served in the Assembly from 1990-91 and from 1994 to present.

Cohen, who is single, practices law in a Montclair office he shares with Sen. Nia Gill, D-Essex. Gill didn't immediately respond to messages at her law and legislative offices.

Dr. Tod W. Burke, a criminal justice professor at Radford University in Virginia and a former Maryland police officer, wasn't directly knowledgeable about the Cohen case, but said generally someone addicted to Internet pornography is no different than someone addicted to alcohol and drugs. He said it also doesn't matter whether someone holds an important position.

``Sometimes those who develop programs or create legislation have greater knowledge concerning the issue at hand,'' he said. ``As a result, the person gets a bit sloppy assuming that he or she will not get caught. After all, who better to know their way around the system than the person who is a part of the system?''

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