The 47-year-old mayor of College Park, Maryland is being arrested on 56 child pornography charges – but says he’s stepping down to deal with his mental health.
- Patrick Wojahn, 47, was arrested after police searched his Maryland home
- Investigators say he used a VPN to try to hide his identity online
- Wojahn is accused of possessing and distributing child pornography
The Democratic mayor of College Park, Maryland, has been arrested on 56 child porn charges after an undercover operation linked him to a social media account that circulated explicit images of children.
Patrick Wojahn, 47, is in custody after his home was searched on February 28. He resigned last night before being arrested.
In January, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informed local police about a social media account that circulated explicit images.
Police linked this account to Wojahn and say he used a VPN to try to hide his identity.
In a letter of resignation Thursday, Wojahn said he would be stepping down to deal with his “mental health.”
In a statement of its own, the city thanked him “for his service” and said nothing about the allegations.
Patrick Wojahn, 47, is in custody after his home was searched on February 28. He resigned last night before being arrested
Kojahn with his husband Dave Kolesar at the White House in December to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act
“The City of College Park thanks Mayor Wojahn for his many years of dedicated service,” the city statement said.
Wojahn was linked because he used his College Park email address as the recovery email for the account, according to police.
He was charged with 40 counts of possession of child pornography and 16 counts of distributing child exploitative material.
Wojahn has been the mayor of College Park, a city of 35,000 people, since 2015.
Wojahn lives with his husband Dave Kolesar. They recently visited the White House to celebrate the Respect Marriage Act in December.
Kolesar has not yet commented.
In his resignation letter, Wojahn said, “It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the City of College Park.
“However, I have to resign from my position with immediate effect.
In a resignation letter, he said: “I am stepping down to take care of my own mental health
Wojahn with Nancy Pelosi in a social media picture
“On February 28, 2023, a search warrant was executed at my home as part of an ongoing police investigation. I have fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.
“While this investigation is not an official matter of any kind, it is in the best interests of our community that I step aside and not serve as a distraction.
“Many of you have already reached out with good wishes and thoughts, and I am forever grateful. I am stepping down to deal with my own mental health.
“I ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers.”
In a press release, the Prince George’s County Police Department said: “The image and videos were uploaded to the social media account in January 2023.
“Through various investigative techniques, PGPD investigators discovered that the social media account belonged to Wojahn.”
It is unclear whether charges will be brought against his husband.
Police executed a search warrant at Wojahn’s home on February 28