Washington Post Editor BUSTED – Child Porn??

A longtime video editor at The Washington Post has been arrested on federal child pornography charges after FBI agents discovered illicit material on his work-issued laptop during a search of his Washington, D.C. home.

At a Glance

• Washington Post editor Thomas Pham LeGro was arrested June 26, 2025.

• Eleven files of child sexual abuse material were found on his newsroom laptop.

• Fragments of a broken external hard drive were discovered nearby.

• LeGro faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

• The Washington Post has placed him on administrative leave.

Pulitzer Journalist Caught in Raid

According to a Justice Department statement, Thomas LeGro, 48, was arrested by FBI agents after an investigation linked his IP address to downloads of child sexual abuse material. Authorities executed a warrant at his home and seized an Apple MacBook issued by The Washington Post, where LeGro had worked for 18 years and contributed to a Pulitzer Prize–winning project in 2018.

The seized laptop contained 11 illicit video files, and FBI agents also recovered pieces of a smashed hard drive in a hallway adjacent to his computer—suggesting an attempt to destroy evidence. The affidavit indicates the drive may have contained additional illegal material.

Watch a report: FBI Arrests Washington Post Editor

Past Link, Present Charges

The investigation began in May when the FBI traced a Verizon IP address to LeGro’s residence. According to court documents, the search was tied to a revived account from a 2005 online currency probe. While portions of the federal affidavit remain sealed, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged LeGro with one count of possession of child pornography under a federal statute carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years.

The Washington Post confirmed LeGro’s suspension, stating that he has been placed on leave pending the legal process and reminding the public he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Fallout Inside and Outside the Newsroom

The case is being led by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the DOJ’s Project Safe Childhood program. A New York Post report confirmed the involvement of high-level federal prosecutors, including U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

LeGro’s detention hearing is scheduled for next week in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. If convicted, he would be required to register as a sex offender and could face decades of supervised release.

The arrest marks a severe reputational blow for The Washington Post and has prompted renewed scrutiny of newsroom background checks and device monitoring policies.