Mangano on X-Rated Texts: My Phone Was Hacked

UPDATED Sunday at 5:20 p.m. with a statement from Karin Murphy Caro regarding the sexting allegations involving her and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano:

Police are investigating lurid, X-rated texts that were sent to multiple woman purportedly from the phone number of Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, CBS 2 reported Saturday night.

One of the texts from an ”Ed M” reads, “I’d lay you down,” CBS reported. The rest of the conversation was “so X-rated, we can’t even tell you what it says,” reporter Marcia Kramer said.

Another text from Mangano’s number begins: ”I meant I hope you never stop loving me. If you woke up one day and didn’t love me anymore, my world would end...I’d go crazy not having you.”

Mangano adamantly denied that he sent any of the texts and said that he was the victim of a telephone “spoofing” attack, where someone uses technology to mask their real telephone number and replace it with a fake one.

“I am a victim here,” Mangano said on CBS, suggesting that his political opponents or a ”warped individual” were behind the messages. ”I am being hacked. This is a lie and I will bring every legal action to catch this person and bring this to justice.”

One of the woman who apparently received texts from Mangano’s number posted on Twitter: “My fear was abandonment. His fear was exposure. This is how we settle.” But when CBS reached out to the woman, she said that her Twitter feed had been hacked.

The Nassau County Police Department released the following early Sunday morning:

According to police, the Nassau County Police Department received a criminal complaint from County Executive Edward P. Mangano regarding social media impersonation attempts.

The county executive became aware of the spoofing attack after his staff received information from Karin Caro, a public relations consultant, who also reported being victimized by the spoof.

CBS New York provided the department with a document from an anonymous source in what appears to be a cut and paste of a text from an ‘Ed M.’ and tweet from Karin Caro, which she denies ever sending. Both parties have no record of such text or tweet and the department reviewed its social media monitor, which routinely monitors the county executive’s account, and also has no such record of any tweet. In addition, Karin Caro has stated that she never had such communication with the county executive nor does she have his cell phone number.

The Department’s Intelligence Unit, in coordination with the Electronics Squad, is actively investigating this matter.

Karin Murphy Caro, the owner of a Long Island public relations/social media firm, released the following statement regarding the sexting allegations involving her and Mangano:

To be clear, the alleged text messages and tweets are fabricated, false and never happened. I never communicated with the county executive via text message, nor even have his cell phone number. Both the Nassau County Executive and I have been maliciously attacked and have both been victims of a terrible crime perpetrated most unfortunately on a weekend that is supposed to be dedicated to harmony and love.

I have been a victim of abuse in the past, and to be a victim again, is hurtful, particularly as it involves Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

He is a man I know to be of goodwill and of the highest professional standard. He has never wavered from those qualities.

I have had a professional relationship with Mr. Mangao through my firm. My firm and I are also held to the highest ethical standards and are known for this across Long Island.

My firm has spoken out on behalf of victims of domestic abuse through misuse of the criminal justice system and the internet.

I am currently going through a trying period in my life regarding abuse and attacks. I cannot discuss any details of this matter since the case is in litigation. But I sincerely hope that my personal trials would be kept out of the public domain.

I have always had the utmost respect for Mr. Mangao, the law, and for doing the right thing. That will never change.

I know the truth will come out and I have the utmost confidence in the investigation through the Nassau County Police.

I ask that any comments or questions are referred to my attorneys: Anthony Capetola and Jennifer Schenkler: (516) 524-4800.