UPDATE: Pa. Sen. Folmer resigns day after being charged with possession of child pornography

Following the Tuesday arrest of a state senator from Lebanon who had been charged with possession of child pornography, Gov. Tom Wolf is calling for his immediate resignation.

State Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon County, was charged after the state attorney general’s office was alerted by the social media site Tumblr that suspected child pornography was uploaded, according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Wolf released this statement:

“We elect leaders to serve as a voice for those who do not have the ability to advocate for their own needs, demanding that they will protect our children, families, and communities. The charges against Senator Folmer are disgusting and beyond comprehension, and show he has taken advantage of the trust and privilege afforded by the people of Pennsylvania. He should immediately resign.”

As a result of the charges, state Senate Republican leaders last night said Folmer is being removed as chairman of the Senate State Government Committee.

Folmer was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

“This defendant serves as a state Senator and was entrusted to honor and represent his community in the Pennsylvania Capitol,” Shapiro said in the statement. "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.”

After receiving the tip, investigators were led to Folmer’s Lebanon home, where they say they found images of suspected child pornography on his phone.

Folmer, who has served in the state Senate since 2006, played a key role as a co-sponsor to the law allowing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. He was a leader in the bi-partisan effort to pass the bill, which Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law.

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