State Sen. Mike Folmer Submits Resignation After Filing Of Child Pornography Charges
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) -- Senate officials say a Pennsylvania state lawmaker who is facing child pornography possession charges has resigned.
Sen. Mike Folmer's apparent resignation Wednesday came hours after he was arrested by the state attorney general's office. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said in statement that they received Folmer's resignation letter after they spoke with him to insist on it.
The state attorney general's office charged Folmer late Tuesday with possession of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility, both felonies.
Investigators allegedly found two images of child pornography on Folmer's cell phone after they asked him to turn it over at his house in Lebanon County. Authorities were acting on a tip from a social media website.
The 63-year-old Folmer and his lawyer haven't returned messages.
Both Gov. Tom Wolf and state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale called for Folmer's resignation.
Wolf, a Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday morning that the charges against Republican Sen. Folmer are disgusting and beyond comprehension, and that Folmer should immediately resign.
DePasquale said in a statement: "The vile, disgusting charges against Mike Folmer are beyond shocking and warrant his immediate resignation from the Senate," DePasquale said. "People in leadership positions must be held to a higher standard and Folmer has no business holding a position of public trust."
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