The child porn trial of former state assemblyman Neil Cohen has opened a can of worms for security and legal experts.

The Attorney General's Office seized computers from the 20th Legislative District office after receiving information that Cohen might have used the internet to access child pornography. The investigation has temporarily left his two fellow lawmakers with limited computer access. Senators Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (both D-Union), who shared a legislative office, had their hard drives seized.

While many would see this as part of a normal police investigation, Cohen who has resigned, has not been charged and there are concerns that the fact that the seven hard drives are in the paws of the police breaches the state's Open Public Records Act. The law protects the confidentiality of communications between constituents and their legislators. If a person confessed to a crime and wanted their senator to help them, the coppers could see all the details on the hard drive.

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