Story perspectives

U.S. Dean Joshua Kohut Arrested in Upskirt Probe

8/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Joshua Kohut, a U.S. dean of research, was arrested for fourth-degree invasion of privacy after alleged upskirt filming.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the charge on Aug. 25, 2026.
A search warrant executed Aug. 24, 2026 seized five devices, one containing the upskirt video.
Rutgers University placed Kohut on administrative leave and banned him from campus pending investigation.

History

Historical Context

The 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act, enacted after a New York Times report revealed cable subscribers' viewing habits, prohibited unauthorized disclosure of personal video records. Congress passed the law with bipartisan support, imposing a $5,000 civil penalty per violation and empowering the Federal Trade Commission to enforce it. Like the 2026 arrest of Rutgers dean Joshua Kohut for upskirt filming, the VPPA illustrates how legal frameworks target invasive recording and privacy breaches in academic and media contexts. The precedent suggests prosecutors and universities will increasingly rely on federal privacy statutes to pursue similar offenses, potentially expanding civil penalties and criminal charges.

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Story summary

Joshua Kohut, a U.S. dean of research, was arrested for fourth-degree invasion of privacy after alleged upskirt filming.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the charge on Aug. 25, 2026.
A search warrant executed Aug. 24, 2026 seized five devices, one containing the upskirt video.
Rutgers University placed Kohut on administrative leave and banned him from campus pending investigation.

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