Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post photojournalist Thomas Pham LeGro, 48, has been arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. He appeared before a federal judge in Washington DC and is being held ahead of a bail hearing scheduled next week.
FBI agents executed a search warrant at LeGro’s residence on Thursday, confiscating several electronic devices. During the investigation, they discovered a folder on his work laptop containing 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse. Additionally, agents found broken pieces of a hard drive near the laptop, suggesting attempts to conceal evidence.
Charging documents reportedly link LeGro to an account identified in a 2005 investigation of E-Gold, a payment platform previously associated with child pornography websites.
LeGro has had two stints with The Washington Post spanning 18 years. He was part of the Post team awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for coverage of the Roy Moore Senate campaign and subsequent media controversies. As Deputy Director of Video since 2013, he oversaw a team producing award-winning content across multiple newsroom departments.
The Washington Post has placed LeGro on leave amid the serious allegations. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. It remains unclear whether LeGro has secured legal representation or entered a plea.
