Union quiet in wake of Cohen shocker
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter
District 20 Legislative Office on Friday: Politicker photo
UNION - The front door to the District 20 Legislative Office swung open but inside the place was almost barren.
"I’ve been instructed to refer all press to the statement on the front door," said Thomas Lynch, chief of staff to Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union), chair of the Democratic State Committee.
A pair of sound trucks were parked on Stuyvesant Avenue and a handful of reporters stood in front of the office, studying the release taped to the door.
Cryan and state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) released the statement last night, which says they referred tbe actions of their colleague, Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle) to the Office of Legislative Services.
Now the object of a state AG's probe about his alleged use of child pornography on his state-owned office computer, Cohen apparently checked himself into a hospital psych ward yesterday amid rumors that he would imminently resign.
So far, he has not issued an official statement.
Phone calls to most area council people and freeholders, meanwhile, about prospective replacements for Cohen in the Assembly went mostly unreturned on Friday morning.
"I think it would be premature for me to make a statement at this point," said Union County Freeholder Director Angel Estrada.
Lesniak, who controls most of the political terrain in Union county, made a brief comment via cellphone.
"I will not be making any political decisions until Monday," he told PolitckerNj.com.
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Syndicate
Don't know what to say...
But this Cohen guy sounds very troubled. The handwriting's onthe wall on this one. you don't sign yourself into the psych ward unless you are trying to lay a defense or two once the charges are lodged. He's a lawyer, he's not a dummie. I don't think Lesniak and crew can cover this one up once all the facts come out. Thay had to have an inkling that something was up. One news report said he's never married...doesn't date....was a loner.....
Quote of the Day
"I will not be making any political decisions until Monday." -- Ray Lesniak
That tells you just about all you need to know about Union County politics and who will decide who the next Assemblyperson is.
Neil Cohen
Hmmm! Never married. . .desn't date (publicly). . .was a loner.
Something tells me Neil and McGreevey had more than a few things in common. Jimmy boy liked them mature. . .Neil. . .well . . .we'llall know the full truth in do time. I'm sure the democratic appointed AG will leave no stone unturned getting to the truth. Of course, like the Norcross tapes, things do happen; tapes get erased, files deleted. But, we'll see, we'll see!
Union Quiet ?
yes what do you expect they are all illegal
and dont speak English. This is normal behaviour in UNION
Hate to burst your bubble guys
But Neil Cohen had a very public relationship with Senator Nia Gill (D-Montclair) who he still partners a law firm with. Perhaps the assemblyman goes all sorts of ways (kids, adults, men, women etc)
Sad..
Cohen was a good legislator, and I hoped he was going to go on to the State Senate if Lesniak ever gave that seat up.
Lesniak is smart, he turned in Cohen knowing that if someone else would of turned Cohen in, then that whole District 20th team would get the flames. Now Lesniak can say "I had nothing to do with this, i told on him remember!"
Dumb Union County voters, "Ooooh yea"