UNION GOP: COHEN CAMPAIGN FUNDS SHOULD BE FROZEN OR DONATED
By County Watchers | July 30, 2008For Immediate Release
Union County Republican Chairman Phil Morin issued the following statement in response to former Assemblyman Neil Cohen’s resignation in the wake of allegations that pornography involving underage children was found on his legislative office computer:
As the investigation of child pornography allegations apparently continues against former Assemblyman Neil Cohen and election laws mandate that a special election be held this November as a result of the legislative vacancy, the Union County Republicans are calling for both his individual and joint legislative campaign accounts with Assemblyman Cryan to be frozen until the investigation is complete.
No campaign funds should be used for Mr. Cohen’s personal legal defense or doled out as campaign contributions in the interim.
If the allegations are true, we call upon Mr. Cohen to donate all funds in his campaign accounts to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help in the fight against child pornography and to assist the only true victims of such a heinous crime. According to their website, financial donations to the NCMEC “help advance their mission to prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation” and “assist victims of abduction and sexual exploitation, their families and the professionals who serve them.”
Charitable donations are specifically authorized at N.J.S.A. 19:44A-11.2 and N.J.A.C. 9:25-6.5