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Providence, R.I. • A state lawmaker who shared with colleagues a screengrab showing web browser tabs that referenced pornographic content took to the House floor to insist: "I am not a pervert."
Democratic Rep. Ramon Perez of Providence addressed colleagues from the floor on Tuesday, the Providence Journal reported (http://bit.ly/2sAjcL9 ).
"I am not a pervert. I made a big mistake of trusting too much in people," he told them as he denied looking at pornography online. "I know people in here don't believe me. They say that's the excuse everybody makes."
Perez apologized last week after distributing the screengrab to members of the House Finance Committee. The screenshot showed a page with information relevant to legislation about car accident insurance that was being discussed, but above it there were multiple open browser tabs with titles referencing obscene material.
Perez said he got it from a friend who had researched the issue for him.
On Tuesday, he asked his colleagues for forgiveness.
"Just give me a chance and don't judge me so quick," he said. "It was an innocent mistake."
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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.providencejournal.com