A Pennsylvania state senator was busted last Tuesday on child porn charges, the state Attorney General announced.
Republican Sen. Mike Folmer, 63, was charged with sexual abuse of children, possession of child pornography, and criminal use of a communication facility after law enforcement found images of child pornography on Folmer’s cellphone when they executed a search warrant at his Lebanon home.
Officials with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said they received a tip that a user of the site Tumblr uploaded an image of child pornography to the site, which prompted them to investigate further.
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The investigation led officials to the home of Sen. Folmer.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a statement announcing the charges against Folmer, saying:
“This defendant serves as a state Senator and was entrusted to honor and represent his community in the Pennsylvania Capitol. I will continue to say it — no one is above the law, no matter what position of power they hold. I will continue to work to protect children and hold those who abuse them accountable.”1
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Folmer was elected to the Pennsylvania senate in 2006, and was re-elected to his fourth term last November. In 2016, he played a pivotal role in the passage of a bill that legalized medical marijuana in the state. He represented Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties, in the southeastern part of the Pennsylvania. State Senate leadership said that Folmer would immediately be removed as Chair of the Senate State Government Committee. His seat is now listed as “vacant.”1
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said of the charges:
“(they are) disgusting and beyond comprehension, and show he has taken advantage of the trust and privilege afforded by the people of Pennsylvania.”1
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Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said in a joint statement:
“We are shocked to learn tonight of the allegations made against Senator Folmer. We will fully cooperate with law enforcement regarding this deeply disturbing matter. Given the severity of these charges, Senator Folmer is immediately being removed as Chair of the Senate State Government Committee. Further action in response to these charges will be taken by Senate Leadership in the coming days.”1
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Folmer, who posted $25,000 bail Tuesday night, is married and has two adult children and seven grandchildren, according to his Senate website. A woman at his former Senate office, when reached by CBS News, said the office no longer represents him.
