N.Y. district attorney admits to porn star past

Mark Suben (left, sitting on car) is photographed during the 2012 Dairy Parade. After repeated denials, Suben, who is serving his second term as Cortland County's district attorney, admitted he starred in 1970s porn films as Gus Thomas. / subenforda.com

CORTLAND, N.Y. An upstate district attorney admitted on Friday that he had previously worked as a pornographic actor in the 1970s, despite previously repeatedly denying working in the adult film industry.

Mark Suben, the DA in Cortland County near Syracuse since 2008, held a news conference Friday to say he had lied about his past in the days before this year's election. He had recently been re-elected to a second term.

"Recently materials have been circulated alleging that I was involved in the adult film industry about 40 years ago in New York. Those allegations are true," he said. "I was an actor in adult films for a short period in the early 70s. I was also an actor in other venues including off Broadway, soap operas and commercial advertisements."

He apologized for his actions and said he used "bad judgment" by acting in porn and by lying about it. He wouldn't take questions, including whether he should resign. On his way out of the news conference, several people said "You lied to me, Mark."

Suben's spokeswoman, Aimee Milks, said Suben will not resign.

"A few weeks ago, when asked, I denied this to members of the press," Suben said. "I regret that and I apologize for it. I was shocked and embarrassed to be confronted with this so many years later. I was embarrassed for my family and friends who have stood by me. I also denied my actions to my family, my friends and my staff."

Earlier on Friday, CBS affiliate WTVH in Syracuse, N.Y. published a story that a YouTube video posted by user DistricAttorneypornstar3 tried to expose Suben as a porn star actor named Gus Thomas.

The IMDB online database says Suben and Thomas are linked and classified as alternate names. The name Gus Thomas appears in films such as "Lecher," and "The Love Witch." He also was featured in "Deep Throat Part II," the sequel to the groundbreaking 1970s pornographic film. Mark Suben appears in the credits for the non-pornographic 1976 movie "Angels."

As recently as last month, Suben had denied being a porn star saying "there's no truth" and the porn star was just a "look alike" to WTVH. He added that sites like IMDB could be changed to spread falsehoods.

"I have heard these rumors for years... There are people who don't like me," Suben told WTVH in October.

He refrained from commenting further on the matter after the press conference.

Suben has been an acting city court judge, city corporation counsel and a county attorney. He is past president of the Cortland County Bar Association. He graduated from the University of Rochester, the University of Wisconsin and Fordham Law School, according to the biography on his election website. The bio says he worked seven years as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County then moved to Syracuse. He has taught criminal trial practice as an adjunct professor for 17 years at Syracuse University Law School.

[Earlsoutham]

Um RoyRogers48? Your predictable comment about Americans being prudes came right on cue. This is about a DA, whose position is one of moral authority and prosecuting people who lie about their pasts, LYING repeatedly about his past and then even saying that "it was some other guy who looked like me." A DA's job is to make people responsible for their actions. By not owning his past until exposed, he sets a terrible example to criminals.

It's all about the coverup. What part of that don't you understand?

[Earlsoutham]

By continually lying and hiding his past, this DA left himself open very vulnerable to blackmail and extortion.

I must say; very creepy that he acted in a film where he was having sex with a young actress playing a Girl Scout.

Also, experts say that the majority of people who appear in porn films were sexually molested as children. Was Supen?

[lordanson]

Was Suben's spokeswoman, Aimee Milks, a porn star way back when? What is their political party affiliation? The article did not say.

[Scannit64]

By the fact that his political affiliation was not mentioned in the first 4 pages in an internet search, I finally found a pre-election article that did not mention the word porn..

http://whcu870.com/Race-for-the-Cortland-County-DA/14606810

He'll be forgiven, nothing to see here, he has a big letter D behind him. No matter the offense, it's his motivations today, and he HAD to lie to fight off those awful comments that some people call The Truth. How dare you require the District Attorney tell the truth. If he's willing to lie to keep his job, what makes you think he wouldn't lie to prosecute an innocent person? No skin off his nose, it's the good intentions he has, not the actual truth.

[hypnotoad72]

"I have heard these rumors for years... There are people who don't like me," Suben told WTVH in October.
-------

That's just human nature. Not everyone is liked by everyone else.

[wbstore]

Don't know why this is such a big deal. I heard that he had a "small part".

[fleabag75]

Resign?? RESIGN?? These people don't resign! They will do anything and everything to get the brass ring they pursue. Once attained do really think they will give it up? These people are some of the most egotistical, power hungry, narcissistic humans there are. Resign? yeah, right.

[nohater]

if he broken no laws that would keep him from being a lawyer, a prosecutor, don't see the issue. so he denied, and lied, about being a porn star which is no doubt not morally right but it's still not against any law. or is it?

[shuman_andrew]

You're saying you see no issue with an attorney lying? Taking an extra long lunch break isn't against any law but it'll sure as heck get you sacked. This man lost all credibility, which is a job requirement for his position. That's why he must go.

[Mohammed_Goldberg]

An old lawyer joke: Why in the US and all of it's territories and possessions, do the have laws prohibiting lawyers from having sexual relations with their clients? The answer is these laws prevent the client from getting billed twice for the same service.

Evidently Mark Suben decided he needed plenty of practice before taking the bar exam.

[frcsdl]

I frankly don't blame the guy for trying to hide this from an American public of double standards. Just take a look back at how other countries in our civilized world reacted to Bill Clinton's "faux pas." We were viewed as a country of hypocrites with a human being with human feelings and human flaws who happened to be an extraordinary leader (and still is). If the man or woman is serving your community with skill, effectiveness, and PUBLIC integrity, then I believe that you should leave his personal ventures, past or present, to him and family to work out. If he has served you well and lived up to your expectations, then let him continue to do the work you expected of him; let him work the rest out with his family - as you would yourself. God know, many of you have your own secrets yet to be revealed, and you would not want your ability to work, or to lead, to be denied due to actions or feelings that might harbor yourself.

[shuman_andrew]

How the hell does lying about one's past equate to 'Public integrity'? Your argument that 'we all have our secrets' is quite incorrect. The issue at hand was not that he was a porn star, but that he lacked the 'Public integrity' to own up to it until overwhelming evidence to the contrary was shown. Protip, the truth always comes out, and hiding it ALWAYS works out worse for you.

[inbethlehem]

Way to go man! Too bad your pathetic detractors tried to smear you with stuff you did (probably as a starving actor, to feed yourself)thirty or forty years ago.

You have worked hard, accomplished much and should stand proud. Your success story should serve as inspiration, not cheap and pathetic political fodder for the purient interests of the backbenchers.

[jolanta725]

Absolutely correct--should not be on the defensive--

[shuman_andrew]

If he has so much reason to stand proud, why did he not do so when first shown to have been a porn star? Where was the integrity in his 'Success Story'?