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Subscribe to RSSA district attorney in upstate New York has admitted that he acted in pornographic movies in the 1970s, then lied when questioned about it during his second campaign.
Mark Suben, the DA in Cortland County near Syracuse since 2008, held a news conference Friday to say he had lied about his past in the days before this year's election.
"Recently materials have been circulated alleging that I was involved in the adult film industry about 40 years ago in New York. Those allegations are true," he said. "I was an actor in adult films for a short period in the early 70s. I was also an actor in other venues including off Broadway, soap operas and commercial advertisements."
He apologized for his actions and said he used "bad judgment" by acting in porn and by lying about it. He wouldn't take questions, including whether he should resign. On his way out of the news conference, several people said "You lied to me, Mark."
Suben's spokeswoman, Aimee Milks, said Suben will not resign.
"This was nearly 40 years ago. It was not illegal. Mark Suben was not yet married. He was not practicing law and he was not a law student," said Milks. "It has nothing to do with his law practice or his current position as the district attorney of Cortland County."
"I think the situation is really irrelevant to the campaign," she said. "His record as the DA for the last four years speaks for itself."
WSTM-TV in Syracuse published a story Friday that said Suben had acted under his name and the pseudonym Gus Thomas. That news story followed a posting on YouTube that compared images of Suben with Thomas.
"A few weeks ago, when asked, I denied this to members of the press," Suben said. "I regret that and I apologize for it. I was shocked and embarrassed to be confronted with this so many years later. I was embarrassed for my family and friends who have stood by me. I also denied my actions to my family, my friends and my staff."
The IMDB online database says Suben and Thomas are linked and classified as alternate names. The name Gus Thomas appears in films such as "Lecher," and "The Love Witch." Mark Suben appears in the credits for the non-pornographic 1976 movie "Angels."
His opponent in the November election, Cortland lawyer Keith Dayton, did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment, but told the Syracuse Post-Standard he wasn't concerned about Suben's acting history.
"I think the more important part is the lying," he told the newspaper.
Suben has been an acting city court judge, city corporation counsel and a county attorney. He is past president of the Cortland County Bar Association. He graduated from the University of Rochester, the University of Wisconsin and Fordham Law School, according to the biography on his election website. The bio says he worked seven years as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County then moved to Syracuse. He has taught criminal trial practice as an adjunct professor for 17 years at Syracuse University Law School.
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hey he was working on his courtroom delivery.
His spokeswoman Aimee Milfs I mean Milks. Was she a pornstar too?
EVERYBODY lies about sex.
EVERYBODY !
.
Porn wasn't seedy enough, so he entered politics.
I'd say the most embarrassing part of the story is that "Gus Thomas" is apparently the best "porn name" he was able to think of. ("Dick Armey" would have been better, and political, to boot!) Of course, I haven't seen his earlier "work", so maybe there was something even more embarrassing there...
The trouble with ignorance is that it picks up confidence as it goes along.
- Arnold H. Glasow
;-)
The acting. No big deal. The lying, the bigger issue.
Let a sleeping dog lie. Judge the man by his life long existence. Want to know about his character, ask his immediate family. THEN MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, and quit trying to be a trouble maker.
Who cares!!??
thegreatsquare - That is one of the five greatest comments ever. Well played.
Film at 11???
Agreed...thegreatsquare wins the mirror ball!! Seriously...haven't we all done things we regret when we were younger?? And sex has nothing to do with ones ability to do a job....ask Clinton or Jack Kennedy.
Just sayin'...........
I don't even think he should regret it - he should only regret lying about it. But really, when you are surrounded by a culture of "he was not yet married" (and what business of anybody's if he was?) and puritanical pearl clutching, lying is understandable, though not acceptable.
Hollywood renditions of "sex" are ridiculous. I am all for trying to, ahem, couple good plots with sexual frankness and realism, but have seen few examples of it.
And yes, thegreatsquare gets my vote for best comment.
Another one's about to bite the dust because of p*ssy.
First a couple of highly decorated Generals, now a Judge?
Man o man; whoever designed this pleasure hole, what a sick bastard!
This week has really dented a hole in of all places; the hole!
(sarcasm)
What I'm trying to figure out is when exactly we slipped into a time warp and returned to the Victorian era.
Oh come on! Which one of us would really want to being up something in our past like this that we were ashamed and embarrassed about? He was a young man,didn't do anything illegal, wasn't unfaithful, and didnt That he should even have to discuss this publicly is ridiculous. his even being a story is so indicative of the superfluous, petty and absurd times we live in. Query this: If American society wasn't so immature and silly about sex, would this man ever feel a need to lie about his past sex life?
It's no big deal to me. But... in his next campaign you may want to check out the ads aired by his opponent.
You could make a pretty fair, negative ad from some film trailers.
I've seen those porn movies from that era, he should be apologizing for the acting.
"I think the more important part is the lying,"
Mark Suben should resign!
Not me, I'm good at it.
Ah, the double standard at work. When it's a man, we don't care. When it is a female school teacher, we call for her head (pun intended). In either case it is complete moralistic bullsh!t. Is he a good attorney? Is she a good teacher? Those are the questions that need to be asked.
Amused Muse: Totally agree. Who can blame him for lying? As you said, American views on sex and nudity borders on the ridiculous. The overwhelming majority of people in this country have sex, and a smaller percent of that majority enjoys nudity in some form or another. It's all the puritanical religious nut-jobs who would freak out over this, which means average people will act shocked, and it just ripples out from there.
The bottom line is - does he do his job as a prosecutor? Then leave him the @!$%# alone. If he had a past getting filmed having sex with a bunch of hot women, where's the harm in that? I know plenty of guys who would be jealous as hell (and they're also probably the same ones raising the biggest stink too.)
70's porns looked like someone shoving a two by four into an ornamental shrub. No big deal.
Forest Roamer, you forgot to ask " Did he lie?". He did and to just to a nosy reporter, Have to wonder what his family is thinking right about now." Who is this guy anyway?"
It's good that he can come clean.
Come on people. Get off the crap about "He lied" and that is so wrong. If every person who head an elected political office was force to resign over telling a lie we wouldn't have anyone in office. CLinton told one hell of a lie on camera for about the same thing "SEX", Bush lied, Obama lied, Romney lied. Why didn't we insist Clinton, Bush and Obama resign is lying is such a terrible, unforgiving problem with society. I am sure none of you have ever told a lie about anything to try and get out of trouble or an uncomfortable situation. It's not like it was 2 weeks ago, it was 40 years ago. Good Lord, if I had to answer for all the things I did 40 years ago I would be in trouble. Just ask yourself this, if you have kids and they ask you did you (drink, take drugs, smoke pot, have pre-martial sex.....) have any of you told them "Of course not" even when you did. If so why? It's the same thing here, this guy didn't need to and shouldn't have to answer questions on things that people would use to smear his name or hurt his family for things he did a generation ago.
All of you saying he is wrong for lying need to grow up, look in the mirror, put your hand on a bible and swear to everyone that you have NEVER lied about anything. If you can't then shut up.
No, finderator, I did not forget to ask that question. Of course he lied about it. Wouldn't you? That he was a porn actor 40 years ago makes you holy rollers think he is unqualified to do anything of value. Grow up.
LMAO! Not everybody. From 17 on I've had it with as many women as I could have it with. Many and often!!!
So, many people like me have nothing to lie about!
Why is this news? Who is an apology needed? Get a life you people in the press!
Who really cares, it was like 42 year ago.
It's not what it did, it is that he (recently) lied about it.
Like you wouldn't?
I would not lie about it. I'd climb the highest building and scream: I WAS A PORN STAR!! I HAVE AN 11 INCH PRICK AND I SCREWED WOMEN YOU COULD ONLY DREAM OF!! Well...no, not really...but I can dream can't I???
A porn star in the 70's, a district attorney in 2012.
Not much has changed for this "cat daddy"..
Both are age-appropriate behaviors. 99.9% of us would lie in his situation. He's a normal adult. He shouldn't resign.
I think most folks would forgive a 42 year old lapse of judgement; a recent lie about it, not so much. President Obama admitted some things prior to his first election that some folks thought was a bad move to admit. The result was that there were no headlines on the net or cable about them and we all moved on!
not that I want to see a dude, but how do you do a story about a former porn actor and not show a picture?
Awwwww, you just want to see a dude! ;-)
I have to admit that I'm curious to see what a porn star looks like 40 years later!
Yawwwwn........
who cares what he did 40 years ago or even 5 years ago . Is he a good prosecutor? Does he do his job to the best of his ability? If yes than who cares but lying about it well I can see the problem, but also if there weren't narrow minded people he wouldnt have had to lie. Does knowing what you now know change anything about who you know this man to be as a person or as a DA? No it does not so move on to more important issues and let the man put away real criminals
I bet they have less trouble seating a jury now that this was revealed. People will want to see him in action, even if it is only in a courtroom 40 years later. The curiosity factor will be gigantic ;)
Nikkisixx,
Aside from the puritanical aspect,
I agree - and besides that, lying is the social "lubricant",
We all do it!
When we lie, we are closing off what's inside us.
When we don't lie, when we tell the "truth",
We reveal more of what we keep inside.
That's all - everybody does it!
Sure we all lie. The issue is he's supposed to be above that since he ran for the office which is ostensibly the arbiter of TRUTH and Justice. Can't have people prosecuting citizens and have them lying in public. Can you see how that doesn't compute?
Finderator. "Can't have people prosecuting citizens and have them lying in public."
But we can have the President of the US look into a camera, pound is fingers on the podium and say he never had sex with this women, when in fact he did.
If people can't lie then what about defense attorneys who are defending know killers/criminals who get up and twist the truth because it is their job to defend the guilty no matter what means.
What about every senator or congressman who have lied while in office and were caught lying. 99.9% of them didn't resign their office because they should be held to a higher standard.
Please, don't be so hypocritical as to stand there and say that because he didn't want to admit to something that happened 40 years ago and wasn't illegal, in any way makes him unable to hold the office he holds today.
Remember Clinton's best lie yet when asked about if he had ever smoked pot. (answer: No, because I didn't inhale). Seemd like he didn't want to fess up to doing something from years ago. But he still held the highest office of the land and if that require you to be the "arbiter of TRUTH and Justice" what does.
Well, it was 40 years ago, it wasn't illegal, he wasn't married, and he wasn't a lawyer. If he should resign then anyone who smoked one joint as a teen or had a DUI should be automatically fired as well. Oh, and anyone who had sex while unmarried...especially with more than one person...while a college student or young adult should resign as well. Seriously, the lying part was the problem, but he admitted it and he did nothing illegal. He was an actor and he acted in some films that he wishes he hadn't, but it wasn't illegal and he wasn't cheating on anyone. So he 'fessed up, and that should be it. Now if he were doing that now it would be different.
40 years ago, it probably was illegal but I still don't care. It was a long, long time ago. I don't begrudge a youthful indiscretion like this against anyone; it's just one of those things that people do when they are young and untamed by life.
Chris,
Last I checked the Porm industry isn't illegal. If it was they wouldn't be cranking out thousdands of films a year. Youthful indiscretion? HeI was an actor, both porn and industry. The artical also said he did some broadway. He was getting PAID, like in having a job. Some porn stars make BIG money, more than you and I will make. He was doing what he needed to do 40 years ago. I am sure at that time he wasn't thinking "You know one day forty years from now I might want to be married and run for an elected office" so I might not want to do this.
Chris, I agree and if I lived in the jurisdiction, I would not consider what he did years ago a disqualification for his office. Don't even ASK some of the stuff I did in that time period! BUT, if you DO ask, I won't lie. I am older and wiser and LEARNED from the bad judgements of my youth.
The guy lied during the recent campaign. Sorry, it's just like Weiner and Elliot Spitzer, "Oops, I lied and got caught. Can I still keep my job?" EM, NOOO! If you are gonna play law and order guy, you have to be honest. I don't mean you can't make mistakes, now or in the past, but you gotta be straight when called on it.
Did anyone watch the presidential debates? BOTH candidates lied. Yet one of them is president. McReal.. I doubt you'll ever find a candidate, politician, priest, nun, rabbi, .... who didn't lie... It was 40 years ago. The guy was trying to make a living.. I'm sure you have some indiscretions you wouldn't want public.. There is no story here.. Just @!$%#ty journalism.
And there lies the problem. We have such low expectations from our elected leaders that we see lying as normal behavior. And I want to emphasize that this is not a left or right wing issue, it's a doing the right thing issue. We need to oust the jackasses of our government and keep ousting them until we finally have people who are committed to doing their job for the people. But you sheep out there keep playing the same two party game...which is rigged against average joe btw.
"like Weiner and Elliot Spitzer". How come you didn't mention John Ensign, David Vitter, Larry Craig (maybe gay extramarital sex doesn't count?), Mark Sanford, etc. At least Weiner and Spitzer had the grace to retire which none of your republicans did.
No Macwhatever! That he lied about a legal job he had 40+ years ago that has NOTHING to do with his job now is irrelevant. He probably thought,"wait, all these air heads around now will make a big deal about this........Naw I didn't work porn." It is much to do about nothing. Find someone in church who hasn't lied. He did the right thing, you're just not mature enough to realize that. Our nuclear arsenal isn't enough to "knock the jackesses out of government." The government will reflect the people, as it has for some time.
The main difference is that Weiner and Spitzer had their problems WHILE SERVING IN OFFICE, and this guy only lied about a LEGAL Profession back 40 years ago BEFORE he even trained for the office he holds. Besides, for a Democrat, this would be a job enhancer!
Most people can't handle the truth, and the rest don't want to hear the truth. Besides, the lies are far more entertaining.
Priests have been known to lie about much worse things year after year. The man was only trying to protect his family name & image. Get over it! Every one of us has lied about something one time or another.
I don't care what priests do, as long as they're not doing it to underage children. And, I don't think it matters what this guy did 40 years ago. What is a bigger deal is that he lied when confronted about it. He's the chief law enforcement official in his county. As such, he must meet very high ethical standards. The next time his office charges someone with a crime, are the people of his county going to wonder if he's lying? What will jurors think?
Barry- As such, he must meet very high ethical standards.
I will say again. (2) lies told to cover up for doing something wrong. One was from the past and one was recent.
Bill Clinton (while the President): I didn't have sex with that woman. (We know how that turned out)
Bill Clinton (while running for President): I didn't smoke pot, because I never inhaled. (Really)
I would think he held a position that would require the utmost interpretaion of your comment: "As such, he must meet very high ethical standards".
Remember he was able to hand out PARDONS to convicted criminals and approve or veto the laws of the land. Makes you think, doesn't it. Did you have a problem with Clinton?
Actually, Walker, I do have a problem with Clinton in that regard.
But, in an immediate sense, this prosecutor has more control over the lives of individuals than the President of the United States. Yes, the president can pardon people, but the prosecutor can send them to jail or ruin their reputations. So, I'd argue that the prosecutor needs to meet higher ethical standards than even the president.
Leave him alone. Not relevant.
What the hell difference does it make if he was a porn star? If his heart is in his life now it don't matter. Leave the man alone and judge him by his NOW, not his YESTERDAY! Lighten up, we all need/have to eat. Just saying
Has this douchebag prosecuted anyone for victimless crime? If yes then I hope they are merciless with him, throw the book at him, and destroy his career. If no, then he has not done anything wrong as he has no victims and he should be left alone to continue his work.
I assure you, he is a GOP/Tea Bagger. Those hipocriots will lie and think they are above the law. Just like Petraus, Mitt and all the rest of those liars. He's probably on the Hot List of those liars banging the hooker in Kennybunkport.
The World Class liars are: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and all in the Obama Administration.
What's "eough"?
Is that like herpes?
dmill, posting about "teabagging" on a story about a male porn actor?
Do you have something to tell us?
Don't worry, it's OK to have homo-erotic fantasies, you fairy haha
Yo "dmill", the word is hypocrites! And you came pretty close on Kennebunkport! I guess some of us Tea Baggers paid attention in Spelling Class! :P
Hey dmill, you showed us you are a typical lazy, ignorant, vile liberal. He IS a DEMOCRAT. You're on the ignore list now, nothing you say is worth reading.
Has there ever been a liberal that was not a liar? If he is not a liberal now, you can bet he was then.
If you're not a teabagger you should be. You're stupid enough.
-god, posting about "teabagging" on a story about a male porn actor?
Do you have something to tell us?
Sounds as though *someone* is having homo-erotic fantasies!
Then stop having them, you filthy little boy!
-god, the MSNBC poster board is the *perfect* place to come out of the closet.
You can do it! Rachel Maddow is rooting for you!!
You obviously speak from experience.
Every comment you've made on this page is about homosexuals. You're not fooling anyone.
-god, you can do it.
Trolling for stories about male porn actors so you can talk about "teabagging".... You can't fool us!! We know!!
Art, you're still talking about gays. Even when I change the subjet you change it back. What a dipsh!t!
Were you BORN that stupid or did you have to take drugs?
-god, Arthur66 (the second number is supposed to be a 9, Arthur) is so very proud of himself that he finally knows what teabagging is. Don't spoil it for him; he has so few triumphs.
What a suprise this is! You take the guy that is sposed to be the one upholding the law and justice and setting an example and putting criminals in jail. Well look what you get when you do it in New York you get a pornstar! Lets not forget that librals VOTED THIS GUY INTO OFFICE! Whatsa matter? Ill tell you the guy couldnt get any up their in New York because all the women are femi-nazis who cant afford contracepton!
"Librals voted this guy into office!" "We have had eough!" Honestly, we need some Poes to parody the Poes.
Really? How do you know that? Have you researched the characteristics of those who voted for him. If you're just assuming that it must be liberals because it is New York, then I can only assume that you don't know anything about that state. Upstate New York, which is where this guy is located, is much, much more conservative than NYC. As long as you're generalizing, I guess I will, too. Do all conservatives spout off regardless of the facts?
I give this dude credit. I wish I could be a porno star.
Rob,
LOL - gay or straight porn?
Great, way to make him into a hero. Now he's gonna get the vote of every male between the ages of 16 and 27.
Umm, isn't the minimum voting age 18?? Just askin'?!?!
I should've said: "Now he's going to get the approval of every male between the ages of 16 and 27, and the vote of every male between the ages of 18 and 27."
Thanks for the correction.
Something new ,A proscuter that lies,muchless a lawyer that lies.Thr the ones that that upholds the laws.So his excuss when he gets busted lieing dureing atrial,oop your honor?
Your Honor, I really don't think it matters much whether I told the TRUTH. What really matters is whether the people of this state trust me to put away the criminals that LIE TO THE PEOPLE THE SAME WAY I DID TO GET VOTED INTO OFFICE!
GO AWAY...................
ScottP,
Are you suggesting that there could be such a thing as double standards here? Na, I didn't think so.
Wienergate part 2
So he lied. What politician hasn't.
He started his career screwing... and never stopped
Pro Freedom - LMAO
At least porn movies were much better back then than they are today. Nowadays, American porn is mostly Pam Anderson lookalikes with fake boobs and men who have artificially big weaners. How the porn industry gets it up is anyone's guess.
Ah, he's a Democrat. Ok. Now it makes sense.
http://gothamist.com/2012/11/16/upstate_da_admits_that_yeah_he_was.php
Democrats, how could you. The moral terpitude.
That's just the jealousy talking.
You'd think differently if you weren't impotent. Or afraid of sex.
Yah, that'd be awesome, being in a porno, from like the 70's dude. And you know, them pornos don't like wearing condoms like we heard out in LA recently. So you could be drilling some wh*re unprotected, and there'd be like 10 crew members standing around watching with their hands down their pants...that is some hot, hot stuff.
Whatever. I was in porn too. Big deal. With all of the amateur videos that are produced by people using their smart phones, half of America has probably been in "porn".
Chickabowwow...gonzo gay porn court is in session.
Who cares???
STOP TRYING TO CREATE NEWS!!!!
It is below you. Or, maybe not.
He's not the problem, you are.
If it bothers you, why don't you elect another person, camoaign or run for office.
You won't because you just like to complain, so leave it alone.