TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Legislative leaders sought to install filters
to block inappropriate material from being viewed on state computers
two days after a veteran assemblyman’s computer was seized for
containing child pornography.

The 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 on Wednesday. Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan,
who share that office, had alerted authorities about the pornography.

“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.”

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.

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 state Attorney General Anne Milgram, said the
office had no comment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also declined to
comment.

Cohen has not been charged.

The 57-year-old
Democrat hasn’t answered calls to his cell phone nor responded to text
messages. He’s been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.

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

Associated Press writer Samantha Henry in Union Township contributed to this report.

N.J. lawmakers push for porn filters on computers – By TOM HESTER Jr., Associated Press Writer