NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
DOJ: Washington Post Journalist Arrested, Charged in Child Porn Investigation
A Pulitzer Prize-winning video editor at The Washington Post has been arrested following a federal investigation that allegedly uncovered disturbing content on his work laptop.
Thomas Pham LeGro, 48, was taken into custody Thursday after FBI agents executed a search warrant at his Washington, D.C. home. The U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, confirmed Friday that LeGro faces charges related to child pornography, including possession of 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
The New York Post reports that the explicit content was found in a folder stored on LeGro’s Washington Post–issued laptop. According to the federal affidavit, agents also discovered broken pieces of a hard drive outside the room where the laptop was seized—raising suspicions of attempted evidence destruction.
LeGro appeared in federal court on Friday. A detention hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
The affidavit, though heavily redacted, connects LeGro to multiple accounts with E-Gold, an online digital currency service that was shut down in 2007 after being linked to international child exploitation and money laundering operations. The FBI reportedly received court authorization to monitor LeGro’s online activity as early as May.
LeGro’s journalism career spans over two decades. He began working in The Washington Post’s sports section in 2000 before moving to PBS’s “NewsHour” as a producer and reporter. He returned to the Post in 2013 and became a key member of the video team that received a Pulitzer Prize in 2017 for its coverage of allegations against former Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.
As of now, The Washington Post has not issued an official statement regarding the arrest.
The charges have shocked the journalism community and stirred controversy given LeGro’s high-profile role and accolades. Critics have called for greater scrutiny into newsroom oversight and background checks, while others caution against rushing to judgment before a trial.
Attorney General Pirro emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “No position or prize places anyone above the law, especially when children are at risk.”
The investigation is ongoing, and the DOJ has indicated that further charges may be filed depending on forensic analysis of additional electronic devices recovered from the scene.
