Watch CBS News

LA City Commissioner Blames Possession Of Child Porn On His Medical Condition

» UPDATE: Former LA City Commissioner Arrested On Possession Of Child Porn

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Los Angeles City Commissioner has resigned in the midst of a child porn investigation.

The FBI is investigating Albert Abrams for possessing hundreds of pictures of child pornography.

CBS2 has learned that Abrams doesn't deny the allegations, but he blames the pictures on a medical condition.

Investigative Reporter David Goldstein has the story.

"Did you enjoy looking at those pictures?"

"Not at all," says Abrams.

"Then why did you have them?

"That's what we're trying to find out."

Until Wednesday, Abrams was on the City Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. It's a non-paying position appointed by the mayor that deals with neighborhood problems.

According to an affidavit obtained exclusively by CBS2, an undercover agent allegedly downloaded pictures from a file sharing website frequented by pedophiles. The account name was "BoyWonderUSA." Hundreds of pictures containing sexually explicit images of children, some as young as 4 years old engaged in sexual acts.

The account was traced back to Abrams' home in Tarzana.

Goldstein asked Abrams if he went by the name "BoyWonderUSA." And he didn't deny it.

"It is what my split personality decided to do. That's what happens when you have tumors."

That's right, Abrams claims he has a split personality because of a tumor in his spine that affected his brain. And it was the other person who was watching kiddie porn.

He asked Abrams if he remembered watching it. Abrams replied, "I was watching myself from a distance watching it."

Goldstein asks, "Watching yourself from a distance?" Abrams says, "Yes."

Abrams is a player in Los Angeles politics. Appearing with Council members. And he also runs a Public Relations firm where he claims to have worked on campaigns for Robert Kennedy, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter. The FBI raided his home on Friday. He wasn't arrested, but they seized his computer.

Now, days later, coincidentally, Abrams says the doctor just told him what was going on.

Goldstein asks Abrams, "You just found out today that your medical condition triggered you to look at kiddie porn of toddlers as young as four?" Abrams says, "That's correct."

Goldstein presses the point. "Just today? Four days after the FBI raided your house and you're under investigation. Isn't that a little suspicious?" Abrams replies, "No, it's a very natural thing to find out what's going on."

Goldstein also asks Abrams' wife if she buys this story. "Absolutely, I do," she says.

Abrams wife, Linda, backs up her husband saying he was in pain from the tumor.

"He was at the end of his rope with the pain," she says. "He was just trying to carry on."

Goldstein asks her if she believes the kiddie porn alleviated his pain. Of that she is suspect. "I highly doubt that."

Abrams is then asked if he will supply the name of his doctor. "Absolutely." But Goldstein reports that he stopped short. And never supplied a name. He promised he would call, but he hasn't.

Goldstein wanted to know if Abrams believes he did anything he should serve jail time over. "No, why. I'm not a criminal," explains Abrams.

He also told Goldstein he sees no reason why he should step down as a commissioner.

Goldstein asks Abrams point blank if he should quit. "That's up for the mayor to decide."

In closing, Goldstein asks Abrams if he believes he should be representing neighborhoods…families and children?

Abrams does not hesitate. "Absolutely."

» RELATED STORY: Former LA City Commissioner Arrested On Possession Of Child Porn

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.