He doesn't come across looking OK to me. He looks like someone who has admitted he is guilty of visiting child pornography sites.

There is nothing in the article that is consistent with the stories (some of which are conflicting) he has now given to the press. No mention of him "researching" child pornography for his memoirs. Nothing of the sort is mentioned, so I have no idea why people think this exonerates him for what he did. Townsend broke the law, and should receive the same treatment others received who have been convicted in the Operation Ore sting, who committed comparable crimes.

I don't think he should receive special treatment, just because he is a popular celebrity. Many others (1,300 so far) have been exposed, and of those who are public officials, their names have been made public as well.