State Attorney Jeff Ashton admits using Ashley Madison website but won't step down [View all]

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Jeff Ashton, the state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties, admitted Sunday that he signed up for the Ashley Madison website but said he never had an affair as a result.

"While I indulged my curiosity about the site it never went beyond that," Ashton said at a press conference at an Orange County hotel, at which he apologized for his actions. "These were incredibly stupid choices."


But Ashton added, "No laws were broken" in his use of the website, which has gained more attention in recent days after it was hacked and information about clients became public.

Ashton insisted his visiting the website had no bearing on his job, but he said he did access the site during work hours. He said he would not step down.

Ashton choked up several times during the press conference, usually when speaking about his family and the embarrassment it has caused them.

"Today I'm not very proud of myself."

A spokeswoman for the state attorney said he did not intend to answer further questions about his involvement, saying he was currently involved in a murder trial.

Orange County spokeswoman Doreen Overstreet said that the county has a content filter to block inappropriate websites.

"However, Mayor Teresa Jacobs has asked our Information Systems & Services team to conduct a complete review of the database to be sure that no employee has used taxpayer time or resources to access this site," Overstreet said.
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Ashley Madison is a brand of Avid Life Media Inc. According to the website, “Ashley Madison is the world’s largest website for married men and women looking to have a discreet affair.” The website has a membership spanning 46 countries, according to Avid Life Media Inc. Other sites promoted on that Avid Life page include CougarLife.com, and EstablishedMen.com.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/os-jeff-ashton-ashley-madison-20150823-story.html