POL’S PORN EXCUSE (Pins kiddie Web surfing on gay shame)

Russell Harding, a 38 year old former city official, faces up to 20 years in prison on child pornography charges.  His psychiatrist says he was drawn to the seedy underworld of Internet sex chat rooms because he was too embarrassed to tell his family and political friends he was gay.  Harding was appointed president of the Housing Development Corp. in June 1998 by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  He told his pals he was gay only after press reports were printed over the past year detailing some of his alleged crimes.  He has also been charged with ripping off the public purse to pay for lavish parties and vacations.  He became familiar with pedophilic scenarios and/or pornography only after meeting an individual named Fred on the Internet.  

(New York)