Sen. Mike Bennett Caught Looking at Porn on Senate Floor

By: Lane Wright | Posted: May 3, 2010 2:41 PM
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Sen. Mike Bennett caught viewing a pornographic image during session. Claims it was an unexpected email from trusted source

No one will argue that sitting on the Senate floor during session can get a little boring, but looking at porn is probably not the best way to pass the time.

On Thursday morning, Sunshine State News captured exclusive video of Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, looking at pornographic material on his state-issued computer on the Senate floor.

Ironically, as Bennett is viewing the material, you can hear a Senator Dan Gelber's voice in the background debating a controversial abortion bill.

"I'm against this bill," said Gelber, "because it disrespects too many women in the state of Florida."

Bennett defended his actions, telling Sunshine State News it was an email sent to him by a woman "who happens to be a former court administrator."

"I was just sitting there, bored as they were debating the abortion bill," Bennett said.

"I opened it up and said holy [expletive]! What's on my screen? and clicked away from it right away."

Sunshine State News could not verify how long the image of four bikini-clad women with their tops exposed was open before our cameras started rolling on it, but it was up for at least three seconds before it disappeared from the screen.

Senate spokesperson Jaryn Emhof explained further on Bennett's behalf.

"There was some confusion about an email he received," said Emhof. "He thought it was an email about an item being debated on the Senate floor. As soon as he realized it wasn't he closed the page."

But the one image we caught on camera wasn't the only thing Bennett had viewed. It appears other files, including at least two videos, may have been downloaded, too. He was also caught on camera watching a video of a dog running out of the water and shaking itself off. It is unclear if he also thought that was an email about a bill being debated on the floor.

We offered Bennett an opportunity to prove his statements to Sunshine State News by showing the executive editor and videographer the email record with a government-related subject line, but after talking to the Senate's top lawyer, he declined to let us see those records.

This revealing video comes just weeks after an investigation found a number of federal Securities and Exchange Commission employees had been spending several hours visiting pornographic websites on government-issued computers when they should have been working.

When asked if he ever looks at pornography while on the Senate floor, Bennett responded, "You'd have to be insane to do that. It all goes through a server. I don't think anybody would be doing that."

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Comments (177)

i z
12:57PM JUN 14TH 2010
all i saw was 4 chicks standing in sweem suites and a dog in vid. what porn are you talkin about, there is no porn.
Anarchy
9:41PM MAY 6TH 2010
i have to agree america markets around sex and well sex does sell, but yet when word gets out that some one is looking at a picture that has a censor bar across some chicks tits oh my god we have a problem. First off show the picture with out the bar are they even topless??? I'm 21 i can legally see topless women in every state in America

Yes im an American yes i think America is hypocritical and yes i think america is prude when it comes to nudity. Haha Columbus, Ohio it's legal for women to walk around topless. In europe(italy) first thing i saw when i got off a train was a naked picture of woman I was 14 at the time.

I say good for him, i know i would be bored as hell at senate meeting and probably would surf the Internet or play games.

And yes majority of men look at porn
john whitcomb
10:54PM JUN 2ND 2010
I hope the public can "look the other way" just like Bennett did.our Democracy works when smart people with integrity represent us in governnent. I do no know Bennett,but I know his story and have heard him speak eloquently and passionately. Bennett left millions if dollars on the table at Anschutz Corp.in order to serve us, and IMHO is one of the best poiticians working for us today. Please respectour politicians even when they have embarrassing problems. We need more Bennett's
john whitcomb
10:54PM JUN 2ND 2010
I hope the public can "look the other way" just like Bennett did.our Democracy works when smart people with integrity represent us in governnent. I do no know Bennett,but I know his story and have heard him speak eloquently and passionately. Bennett left millions if dollars on the table at Anschutz Corp.in order to serve us, and IMHO is one of the best poiticians working for us today. Please respectour politicians even when they have embarrassing problems. We need more Bennett's
dave
12:25AM MAY 8TH 2010
Funny how all these Republicans come on here and say "It's not a big deal" as if Bennet doesnt consider himself one of these "Moral Majority" who condemns others for things he clearly does himself.

Social Conservatives are all hypocrites.
dorfmunder
9:04AM MAY 7TH 2010
The bars weren't on his screen, Einstein.
Erik
11:24AM MAY 6TH 2010
this Swedish video of Bennett is the best:

http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/utrikes/article7080779.ab
Toni J
11:22AM MAY 6TH 2010
I agree with Shawn Hannity Bennett is a fool. Throw the bum out. Get somebody in there who wants to debate issue not watch topless babes
Grizzly
10:17AM MAY 6TH 2010
I really wouldn't classify it as porn and he didn't know what was being sent to him. By what I saw, he opened it and when he saw what it was closed it. No crime committed. How many other people weren't paying attention. This is definitely blown way up for nothing.
Xplicit
10:07AM MAY 6TH 2010
GREAT JOURNALISM, exposing a politician doing what all journalists are already at 24/7, whether it is coke, weed, other hard stuff, alcohol, etc. Leave the man alone, let him surf his porn, and STFU. Idiot-America, bigoted n00bs.
mike hawk
6:45AM MAY 6TH 2010
these women are wearing bikinis!!!! and you put an unnecessary censor bar. you need to get sued
Cathy
11:27AM MAY 6TH 2010
Are u blind? They have tan marks not tops!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom
9:31PM MAY 6TH 2010
You need to have your eyes examined. Looking at the video at max resolution shows that at least two of the four women pictured are wearing tops. Tan lines aren't blue.
forunurr
6:00AM MAY 6TH 2010
It's interesting you would call it "porn". Have you ever looked at American popular culture? It is far more sex-oriented than that one picture with a few uncovered breasts. Nudity in itself is not porn, it is not always even that sexual unless suggestively posed. Of course, it seems that American popular culture maintains its high horse by covering breasts and genitalia with strips of fabric (sometimes transparent), so it's all good, right? Americans are such hypocrites. Your whole culture revolves around selling everything with sexual suggestiveness and is driven by a base combination of sex and marketing (how many high-selling musicians are there in America who do not sell their music with sexual suggestiveness?), but you have the nerve to criticize one senator for looking at one picture in a situation where he was clearly set up and scream "porn!!" at him? Get a grip. I'd feel so ashamed if I were an American.
tzigu
5:19AM MAY 6TH 2010
That is not porn!!!!
tzigu
5:19AM MAY 6TH 2010
That is not porn!!!!
libertarian/tine
10:36AM MAY 7TH 2010
Depends on your definition of porn. I know people who consider exposed collar bones porn. but even if it is, so what? In this country sexual suggestiveness is like 'high' finance. The entire nation runs on it yet reviles it at every turn.
Gary
11:41PM MAY 5TH 2010
No. That's not what I would consider porn. Also it was surely a set up...I mean why was there a camera filming him anyway? The former president Bill Clinton got a BJ in the white house oval office and then lied about it and that was o.k with the people....so what's the big deal?? Oh,right... he's republican...oh yeah in that case he needs to be tarred and feathered, etc. etc.....only democrats can get by with stuff like this!
connie
11:09PM MAY 5TH 2010
Bored??? The man gets paid plenty and has lots of benefits. We pay him to represent us --he is there to do a job. If he is that bored he can find another job.
Concerned Citizen
10:48AM MAY 6TH 2010
You are exactly right. I don't have any patience with these representatives of the people that find their job boring. If he is too tired to listen to such debates he ought to look for another job. While on the subject, I might as well bring my distaste with the yearly vacation granted to congress. The whole summer off for vacation? What other U.S. citizen is granted such privileges?
Me
4:42PM MAY 6TH 2010
This is not a Congressman, he is a State Senator.
Tammy W.
11:02PM MAY 5TH 2010
I'd like to know how the camera was zoned in on him just as this happened? I'd imagine it was a set up. Too convenient.
collegestudent
9:25PM MAY 5TH 2010
People need to give it a rest. If you live in Florida you see girls in bikinis all the time. & if you've been to South Beach you've seen them topless. BigDeal. We need to be focusing less on the media and more on actual politics. So, he opened his email while on the Senate Floor. Do you know how long those debates last? HOURS. I don't blame him for checking his mail.
connie
11:12PM MAY 5TH 2010
In most jobs u get fired for that type of activity. Ever heard the name Don Stillwell?
William
1:22AM MAY 6TH 2010
No..I haven't
Dave
9:12PM MAY 5TH 2010
Jesus, if that is porn then so is the statue of David!!! The only thing the Senator is guilty of is being bored....get a grip Sunshinesatenews.com!!!!!
Nancy
8:48PM MAY 5TH 2010
What man doesn't look at porn.
Clue in Nancy!
7:26AM MAY 6TH 2010
A lot of men don't. Sad you think otherwise.
Denial!
3:10PM MAY 6TH 2010
70% of men age 18-34 admit to viewing porn at least once a month. The other 30% are lying. C'mon, don't kid yourself. It's fine to take a stance on whether porn is a good or bad thing, but trying to deny that most men watch porn simply won't fly.
Blinded
8:53AM MAY 6TH 2010
How many is "a lot", because it sure isn't the vast majority!
Bill
7:54PM MAY 5TH 2010
How is being topless porn? Did you know we were born topless! (and bottomless!)
ryan
5:52PM MAY 5TH 2010
that's funny.
mpower
5:21PM MAY 5TH 2010
It is not necessarily "about" what he is looking at...it is about WHEN he is looking at it. We already knew he was sleazy...he just confirmed that he is not only sleazy he is also NOT paying attention to Florida citizens...unless of course they are young women in bikinis and topless even garners a bit more SERIOUS attention from Senator Bennett.
ken
4:33PM MAY 5TH 2010
Hey Congressmen and women!! Get rid of the computers while debate is going on. What if facts are being distorted? How the ---- can you vote on a bill if you don't know what is being debated. Go get a real job if you are bored! Otherwise pay attention to EVERYTHING that has to do with the people's business!
Thomas
3:45PM MAY 5TH 2010
Wow. I'm sure in Florida, where the population is either over 90 or inbred, that would be considered porn.
Dave
4:49AM JUN 4TH 2010
Wow, it's so easy to troll people on websites like this. Good job, everyone who fell for it.
Kate
11:17PM MAY 5TH 2010
I suggest you educate yourself and look up the demographics. Better to keep your mouth shut when it can be PROVEN you are extremely ignorant and uneducated.
GRA
10:30PM MAY 5TH 2010
W0w.. What a brilliant and inspiring analysis.
KateofYork
4:31PM MAY 5TH 2010
SO you are saying all those New Yorkers and New Jersey folk flocking down to Florida are inbred? If so I have some cousins in New Jersey who have a few things to show you. You show your ignorance at the demographics of Florida.
Jamal
5:25PM MAY 5TH 2010
Hey,do you feel guilty? There are people,mostly on the gulf coast of fl,from the midwestern states too.Not everyone is from NJ/NY(although I am).Talk about Provincial!!
Get_REAL!
3:21PM MAY 5TH 2010
Are you serious? because an e-mail is opened and contains women in bathing suits does not qualify as viewing porn. This is a prime example of what is wrong with the media. Using your(reporters) ability to slant and make up a story does not qualify you as a legitimate reporter.
PuritansFTW
2:40PM MAY 5TH 2010
Get out the Burkas and Puritan hats!!! Burn him at the stake...moronic media.
Richard_Iowa
2:28PM MAY 5TH 2010
Re: Senator "Caught" Looking at Porn. The headline makes it sound like he was hiding something as he surfed porn websites. Nice try, but opening an attachment that someone else sent is a far cry from sneaking onto porn sites. Do reporters have brains??? Maybe that should the headlines of a thorough investigative report.
Mel
11:14PM MAY 6TH 2010
In FL most of us would like to see our elected officials paying attention to the issues rather than other things. Maybe in Iowa they do not care how much money and benfits these people get along with Medicare and S.S. ???????????
H
2:08PM MAY 5TH 2010
The women seem have bikini tops on, despite the black bar to make people assume that they don't. The senator may have a good case for a libel suit against the media who are publicizing this as pornography.
Nan
11:16PM MAY 6TH 2010
You are aware he admitted they were topless and he was BORED???????????
sirstv
5:56PM MAY 5TH 2010
they all have tops on...I see straps so i guess i take your (news) word they are nude? I agree...SUE
Megan
11:28PM MAY 5TH 2010
What you see is NOT straps. It is TAN LINES from straps. Get some glasses! They all have tan lines! duh.....
Glasses Megan?
11:15AM MAY 9TH 2010
Perhaps you should get your contacts updated and take a closer look. They are straps, NOT tan lines. View the 720P video, near the end, when they zoom in real close. The third girl is shorter than the rest, and the black bar does NOT cover her breasts. Guess what? There is a bikini top on her, and appears to be either a blue or green color. Are you trying to tell me she has gangrene on her nipples? I doubt it! Clueless you are!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p_1E5d5bfE
sirstv
5:57PM MAY 5TH 2010
no pun intended :)
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