Pulitzer-winning Washington Post reporter Thomas LeGro arrested on child pornography charges after FBI home search.

Reporter Arrested Following FBI Investigation

Thomas Pham LeGro, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The Washington Post, was arrested Thursday and charged with possessing child pornography following an FBI-led search of his residence in Washington, D.C. The charges stem from a federal investigation that uncovered explicit material on LeGro’s work-issued laptop.

The 48-year-old reporter, who has been with The Washington Post for over a decade and most recently served as deputy director of video, was taken into custody after FBI agents searched his home and seized multiple electronic devices. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, a folder containing 11 videos of child sexual abuse material was discovered on LeGro’s work laptop.

During the execution of the search warrant, investigators also found what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where the laptop was located. Authorities are examining these components as part of their ongoing inquiry.

LeGro made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday. The Washington Post responded to the arrest with a statement acknowledging the gravity of the allegations: “The Washington Post understands the severity of these allegations, and the employee has been placed on leave.”

Background and Ongoing Federal Investigation

A graduate of George Mason University, LeGro was part of the team awarded a Pulitzer Prize for The Washington Post’s coverage of Roy Moore’s Senate candidacy in 2018. In addition to his work at the Post, he briefly held a position at PBS and oversaw a team of video journalists.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro thanked FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen and Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith for their contributions to the investigation. The case is being pursued as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child exploitation and human trafficking.

The FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force continues to lead the investigation. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the case or whether additional charges will be filed as forensic analysis of seized devices proceeds.

LeGro’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the journalism community, raising questions about oversight and digital security in news organizations. The Washington Post has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement as the legal process continues.