Trans Democrat's Child Porn Charges Spark Conservative Fury Over 'Ideology'

The news that a transgender former Democratic lawmaker faces charges over allegedly colluding with a daycare center employee to obtain child pornography has sparked outrage, with some conservatives linking it to the party's support for pro-LGBTQ+ policies.

Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and aiding and abetting on June 22, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston. Federal prosecutors say that Laughton showed several people nude photos of children as young as three that she received from her "intimate partner" who worked at a daycare facility.

The news comes amid bitter political disagreement over LGBTQ+ rights. Republicans in over two dozen states are trying to stop gender-affirming care for minors and drag shows in front of youngsters in steps they say are intended to protect children. Critics say such measures are harming all LGBTQ+ people, particularly vulnerable youths, and depriving them of their rights.

Laughton, a Democrat, resigned from the New Hampshire House in December after she was charged with stalking her former partner Lindsey Groves, The Associated Press reports. Groves faces charges for allegedly taking nude photos of children for Laughton and sending them to the former lawmaker, according to federal prosecutors.

No defense attorney was listed for Laughton in court records at the time of publication.

On June 20, Nashua police responded to a report that Laughton allegedly showed at least three people four images of what appeared to be child pornography, according to the affidavit sent to Newsweek by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Groves, 38, of Hudson, New Hampshire, was also charged in June with sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography after she allegedly admitted that she sent the pornographic images to Laughton, according to an online statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Groves confessed to taking nude pictures of several of the children in her care at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, and texting the photos to Laughton, federal prosecutors said.

Investigators uncovered more than 10,000 texts exchanged between Laughton and Groves in less than a month, according to the affidavit. The messages, from May 10 to June 16, included graphic discussion about having sex with underage girls and "at least four sexually explicit images of children" who appear to be roughly 3 to 5 years old, prosecutors said.

The affidavit included several disturbing and graphic excerpts the text exchanges allegedly between Laughton and Groves, which show the pair talking about Laughton, who identifies as female but is biologically male, sexually abusing "little girls" that Groves worked with at the daycare center where she said she was employed for roughly six years.

Caroline Ferguson, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, told Newsweek in an email on Tuesday that she could not comment on the number of potential victims at the Creative Minds facility, saying: "The investigation remains ongoing. And per [Department of Justice] policy, we do not disclose any information related to victims."

The affidavits for Laughton and Groves, sent to Newsweek by Ferguson, mention at least four children involved.

When asked by Newsweek if federal prosecutors have concerns that either of the suspects have committed other crimes unrelated to this case, Ferguson noted the active probe into Laughton and Groves and was unable to provide more information as of Tuesday evening.

"Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274," she said.

Ferguson told Newsweek that Laughton will appear in federal court in Boston at 10:15 a.m. Friday.

Laughton's arrest provoked a wave of criticism on social media, where conservatives lashed out at Democrats over their support of trans rights, including efforts to allow transgender people to use bathroom or locker room facilities matching their gender identities.

Right-wing commentator Steve Bannon weighed in on Saturday, blaming Democrats for "destroying" the county in a post on the social media platform GETTR where he shared a link to a Daily Mail article on Laughton's arrest.

"Groomer Party @ Work Destroying America," the former political adviser said.

People expressed outrage over the case on other social media platforms, including Twitter.

"The face of a 'trans' Democrat official, who was just arrested on child pornography and exploitation," Fishing_Huuker tweeted.

Twitter user Bruce Fenton said on Saturday that Democrats "failed the victims," saying the "entire ideology of the democrats is completely broken."

Another Twitter user slammed Democrats in New Hampshire for voting multiple times for Laughton, who was first elected to the state legislature in 2012 and again in 2020.

"#Trans activist Stacie Marie Laughton was elected multiple times as a New Hampshire state lawmaker by Democrat voters," MrAndyNgo tweeted. "Laughton has now been federally charged with aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of 3–5-year-old children at a daycare."

One person said anyone who voted for Laughton should be "barred" from voting.

"Democrats actually voted for this thing," JammieWF said on Twitter. "Anyone who voted for it should be barred from ever voting again."

Update 07/25/23, 5:10 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Caroline Ferguson, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.

Update 07/26/23, 8: 15 a.m. ET: This article and its headline were updated with additional information.