The news of Stacie-Marie Laughton’s guilty plea to federal child sexual exploitation charges is both alarming and, for many, sadly predictable. Laughton, who made history as the first openly transgender lawmaker in the United States, has now become infamous for a very different reason. Once celebrated as a pioneering figure, Laughton’s actions have revealed a disturbing reality that some had cautioned against.

The 41-year-old, previously known as Barry Laughton, conspired with ex-girlfriend Lindsay Groves, who was employed at Creative Minds daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. The pair exploited their positions to victimize children under five years old. According to federal investigators, Groves took explicit photographs of toddlers at the daycare and sent these to Laughton, who was, at the time, serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Consider the gravity of this situation: an elected official crafting legislation by day, and engaging in heinous misconduct by night. Such betrayal of public trust is appalling. Further details on the sentencing can be found here, with previous coverage on the charges available from RedState.

Court documents reveal that Laughton and Groves exchanged thousands of text messages, many of which included discussions about their sinister intentions towards the children. This is not merely “inappropriate behavior”—it is a chilling breach of morality and trust.

Court filings show they “exchanged thousands of text messages” while sharing the images, and in those texts, Laughton openly discussed wanting to have sex with the children. That’s not “inappropriate behavior.” That’s evil.