An FBI investigation has resulted in the arrest of Thomas Pham LeGro, a Washington Post journalist and deputy video director, on charges of possessing child pornography. LeGro, 48, was taken into custody this week after a search of his Washington, D.C., home uncovered evidence of the alleged crimes.
According to the Department of Justice, the search revealed a folder on LeGro’s work laptop that contained 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material. The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. Authorities noted that during the search, they found what appeared to be fragments of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where LeGro’s laptop was located.
LeGro has been an employee of the Washington Post for more than a decade, serving as deputy director of video, overseeing a team of video journalists. He was also briefly employed at PBS before joining the Post. The journalist was part of a team of Post reporters that received a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for their coverage of the Senate candidacy of Roy Moore.
Following the arrest, the Washington Post issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and confirming that LeGro has been placed on leave. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, who provided a statement on the case, expressed gratitude for the efforts of FBI Assistant Director Steven J. Jensen and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
While the case has no immediate financial implications, it raises questions about the ethical responsibilities of journalists and the need for rigorous internal oversight within media organizations. As the investigation progresses, further details about LeGro’s alleged activities and the broader implications for the media industry could emerge, prompting renewed discussions about journalistic ethics and legal accountability.