John Griffin, a former senior producer for CNN, has made headlines by pleading guilty in federal court to child sex crimes. After being charged a year ago, the federal government dropped two of the three charges against Mr. Griffin as part of the agreement. His sentencing is scheduled for March 2023 and he faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
John Griffin’s story first broke when he was arrested in June 2020 after being accused of producing child pornography and traveling across state lines for illicit purposes with minors. The accusations came from two victims who were minors at the time of the events in question. An investigation ensued that included search warrants being executed on his home, vehicle, laptop computer, and cell phone where they discovered numerous pictures and videos depicting him engaging in sexual acts with minors.
The plea agreement between Griffin and the government states that he must pay full restitution to the victims – an amount which will be determined by the court – and forfeit his Tesla vehicle, electronic items, half of the proceeds from the sale of his Vermont home and all proceeds from the sale of his Mercedes vehicle into the court registry.
John Griffin’s guilty plea serves as an important reminder that no matter who you are or your status in society, you will be held accountable if you commit such heinous acts. Child exploitation of any kind is always wrong and should not be tolerated. We must do more to protect our children from predators like Griffin. I’m glad Griffin is being held accountable, and hopefully, justice will be served against him to the fullest.
