Thomas Pham LeGro, a longtime and award-winning video journalist with the outlet, is now facing serious federal charges after agents uncovered alleged child sexual abuse material at his home in Washington, DC.
LeGro, 48, was arrested and brought to court on Friday following a raid on his home, where federal investigators say they found deeply troubling content on his laptop.
What Investigators Found
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in DC, federal agents seized several electronic devices during Thursday’s search, including a laptop believed to contain 11 videos of child sexual abuse material.
Alongside the laptop, they also recovered broken fragments of another hard drive that are now under further analysis.
Prosecutors say some of the material may have been discovered on LeGro’s work-issued computer, adding another unsettling layer to the case.
A Long Career Now Under Scrutiny
LeGro worked at The Washington Post in two stints, spanning nearly two decades.
Most recently, he was promoted to deputy video editor in early 2024.
His career highlights include being part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that exposed the failed U.S. Senate run of Roy Moore in Alabama, a campaign plagued by allegations of child sexual abuse.
Now, that same journalist stands accused of a crime that mirrors the stories he once helped uncover.
A Case That Dates Back Years
What’s even more jarring is that this wasn’t LeGro’s first brush with the law.
The FBI says his name surfaced in an investigation nearly two decades ago.
In 2005, federal authorities traced LeGro to an E-Gold payment account—a platform often used by illicit child pornography websites.
Later subpoenas linked additional accounts to the same address and phone number.
Despite those early red flags, it’s unclear why no charges were filed at the time.
The recently unsealed FBI affidavit doesn’t shed light on how that investigation ended—much of the document remains redacted.
What Triggered the New Arrest
Fast forward to 2024, and the FBI picked up the trail again.
A new investigation was launched last month, including the court-approved tracking of LeGro’s Verizon account.
That effort led to the raid and eventual arrest.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that the current case falls under its long-running Project Safe Childhood program—a federal initiative started in 2006 to track and prosecute online child exploitation.
The Washington Post Responds
In response to the charges, The Washington Post has placed LeGro on administrative leave and released a brief statement:
“We understand the severity of these allegations.
The employee has been placed on leave pending further developments.”
What Happens Next?
If convicted, LeGro faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The investigation is ongoing, and it’s unclear whether additional charges or individuals may be implicated.
The case has also drawn public attention to the internal safeguards (or lack thereof) within major news organizations, especially concerning how work devices are monitored and accessed.
A Dark Twist in a Respected Career
From winning journalism’s highest honor to being at the center of a federal child exploitation case, Thomas LeGro’s fall from grace has stunned colleagues and the public alike.
With prosecutors pushing forward and federal agencies reaffirming their commitment to child protection, this case is likely to stay in the headlines for months to come.