Pennsylvania state Sen. Mike Folmer, a Republican, resigned Wednesday after being arrested for child pornography possession.
A Pennsylvania state senator resigned on Wednesday, a day after being arrested for child pornography possession.
State Sen. Mike Folmer, a Republican serving his fourth term in the state legislature, was one of the most conservative members of the state senate. He boasted of having passed legislation aimed at the "protection of families and individuals."
As NPR noted, Folmer opposed a bill in 2018 "that would have made it easier for survivors of child sex abuse to sue their perpetrators by extending the statute of limitations," citing constitutional concerns.
On Tuesday, he was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography and one criminal use of a communication facility. According to prosecutors, between December 2017 and this month, Folmer "intentionally viewed, knowingly possessed, or exercised control over" images "depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a 'prohibit sexual act' or in the simulation of such an act" or "in a state of nudity."
In a statement, Pennsylvania state Senate Republican leaders Joe Scarnati and Jake Corman jointly wrote: "We are sickened and disturbed by the charges brought against Mike Folmer yesterday. We have reviewed the criminal complaint and spoke with Mike Folmer early this morning to insist on his resignation from the Senate. We are in receipt of his letter of resignation and the 48th Senatorial District seat is now vacant."
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
