A Secret Service employee was arrested and charged with sending nude photos of himself to a police officer who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.
Lee Robert Moore, 37, turned himself into authorities less than a week ago. After waiving his Miranda rights, he reportedly confessed to sending messages to what he believed was an underage girl—but was actually a Delaware State Police detective—and other underage girls.
In one message, actually received by police, Moore told an “underage girl” he wanted to pull her shorts off.
According to police, Moore admitted to sending some of the message while on duty at the White House. He’s been charged with the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years according to CNN, which broke the story Thursday afternoon. The Secret Service has also placed Moore on administrative leave, likely pending termination, and had his security clearance revoked.
In a statement, the Secret Service said it “takes allegations of potential criminal activity seriously.”
“This incident was reported to our Office of Professional Responsibility on Friday, November 6th,” an agency spokesperson said. “On that same date, the employee’s security clearance was suspended and the employee was placed on administrative leave. All Secret Service issued equipment was retrieved and the employee’s access to all Secret Service facilities was terminated.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Some of the more graphic details of Moore’s text messages were posted Thursday afternoon by the Daily Beast. In one message, actually received by police, Moore told an “underage girl” he wanted to pull her shorts off. In another, he instructed her on how to masturbate. “What would make you more nervous?” he asked, “riding on the motorcycle with me or having sex with me.”
According to the complaint, Moore also forwarded a photo depicting an “exposed, erect penis,” likewise received by police.
H/T CNN | Photo via The White House/Flickr (Government Work) | Remix by Dell Cameron