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Posted: Friday, 25 July 2008 4:47AM
NJ Assemblyman Neil Cohen Focus of Child Porn Probe
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TRENTON, NJ (AP) -- Veteran Democratic state Assemblyman Neil Cohen is being investigated for child pornography possession on his legislative office computer, according to four officials familiar with the situation.
 State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, who share a Union County office with Cohen, released a statement Thursday night that confirmed an investigation.
``We have been in constant touch with the appropriate authorities throughout this situation, and will continue to follow the Office of Legislative Services guidelines and counsel in this matter,'' they said. ``As the facts became apparent in our office, we notified the appropriate agency and will continue to assist in any way possible. While it was our proactive steps that led the investigation to this point, we are appalled at what has transpired.''
Cohen, 57, of Roselle, served in the Assembly from 1990 to 1991 and from 1994 to present. He is currently a deputy speaker.
``Both of us have known Neil Cohen for more than two decades,'' Lesniak and Cryan said. ``We know him as a compassionate individual, but if the allegations prove true, clearly there was a side to him neither of us knew. We have been instructed to not make any further comments regarding this very serious matter.''
According to two other sources with knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it, staffers found the pornography on his computer. It was reported to state legislative staff who in turn reported it to the Attorney General's Office, which seized computers from Cohen on Wednesday. He has not been charged, the sources said.
The officials said Cohen has since been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
In 2001, Cohen sponsored a bill creating a computer hotline to report child pornography and other Internet crimes.
Cohen also has been a leading backer of state stem cell research efforts.
Cohen did not respond to messages left at his legislative and law offices Thursday. He did not answer calls to his cell phone, which was not accepting messages.
Calls to the Attorney General's Office also were not immediately returned.
The investigation was first reported Thursday on the Web site of The Record of Bergen County.
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