NEW YORK — An employee under the De Blasio administration and president of Manhattan Young Democrats has been arrested for allegedly being in possession of thousands of files containing child pornography.
Jacob Schwartz, 29, was taken into custody on last week after investigators found on his computer more than 3,000 images and 89 videos depicting children engaging in sex acts on an adult.
He had been under investigation since March after willingly handing over his laptop. Schwartz surrendered himself on Thursday, and his father told the New York Post following his arraignment that Schwartz is obtaining therapy.
His attorney, James Roth, confirmed the information.
“How [the police] came to him I do not know,” he told the New York Daily News. “He’s going to be undergoing psychosexual therapy to get to the root of this issue.”
“If the alleged actions are true, it really seems like a product of someone with a psychological problem calling out for help—not to evade the law,” Roth asserted. “He surrendered his computer and gave them consent to search.”
Schwartz facing charges of promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child under 16. He is currently free on $7,500 bail.
Schwartz had worked as a computer programmer for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, where he assisted with the Hurricane Sandy recovery program. He also served as the president of Manhattan Young Democrats and helped to support the election of Democratic candidates. Schwartz worked as a field organizer for Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.
Both of his positions have now been terminated.
“The Manhattan Young Democrats are shocked by recent reports of criminal allegations against one of our members,” the group said in a statement. “MYD maintains a deep and abiding respect for our judicial system, and the sacred principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty, but the nature of these accusations required us to take immediate action.”
Mayor Bill De Blasio’s office distanced themselves from the employee.
“Obviously, these are extremely serious allegations,” City Hall Spokeswoman Melissa Grace told reporters. “This is a junior-level agency employee with no connection to the mayor or city hall. He is being terminated immediately, and the agency is cooperating with investigators.”
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