A shocking revelation has surfaced as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist from The Washington Post, Thomas Pham LeGro, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography on his work computer. The news was announced by DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who stated that FBI agents discovered 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material on LeGro’s work laptop during a raid on his Washington, DC, home.
In addition to the disturbing content found on his computer, FBI agents also found fractured pieces of a hard drive outside the room where LeGro’s laptop was located. The 48-year-old video editor appeared in District Court of Washington, DC, on Friday and is scheduled for a detention hearing next Wednesday. If convicted, LeGro could face up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI affidavit against LeGro revealed his connection to E-Gold accounts in 2005 and 2006, a digital payment service that was accused of laundering money for child pornographers and subsequently shut down in 2007. The affidavit also mentioned that the FBI had been monitoring LeGro’s internet account since May.
LeGro, who has been with The Washington Post for 18 years, previously worked in the sports department before transitioning to a reporter and producer for “PBS NewsHour.” He returned to WaPo in 2013 and has been a part of the video department, contributing to the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of former Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in 2017.
Roy Moore made headlines when The Washington Post published allegations that he pursued a 14-year-old girl romantically when he was in his 30s, a claim he vehemently denied. The charges against LeGro have prompted The Washington Post to place him on leave, acknowledging the severity of the allegations. The outlet stated, “The Washington Post understands the severity of these allegations, and the employee has been placed on leave.”
The shocking news of LeGro’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the journalism community, highlighting the importance of accountability and ethical conduct in the field. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal activities, especially when it involves such heinous crimes as child pornography.
