Ex-ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek cuts deal in child porn case: report

Former ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his child pornography case, according to reports.

Meek, 53, is scheduled for a “change of plea hearing” at federal court in Alexandria, Va. on Friday, according to the Washington Post. The disgraced investigative reporter had originally pleaded not guilty to possessing, distributing and transporting child pornography after he was indicted earlier this year.

Meek’s trial was set to start next week. He faced a sentence of 5 to 20 years if convicted.

According to a previous report in The Daily Beast, Meek was seeking a plea deal that would avoid a trial while retaining the right to appeal at a later date. It’s unclear what charges Meek may plead guilty to.

Defendants typically waive their right to appeal.

Meek’s attorneys argued previously that the FBI search in April 2022 that led to his arrest nearly a year later was improper.

Agents found explicit images and videos of minors on his devices.

The search came after a tip from Dropbox, an online file storage company, that Meek had child porn on his account.

Meek also allegedly sent explicit messages and photos of himself to minors. Prosecutors also argued he “pressured” at least one minor to send explicit images despite knowing their age.

“A minor victim told law enforcement that the defendant pressured her to send pictures depicting sexually explicit conduct,” assistant U.S. attorney Zoe Bedell wrote. “Law enforcement found 11 images of this minor on the defendant’s phone, including nude images with her breasts and pubic region exposed.”

Meek remains in federal custody since his bail was revoked after a judge agreed he posed a risk to the community.

Meek, who once worked for the Daily News, had worked at ABC News covering national security since 2013 but abruptly resigned the day the FBI raided his Virginia home and seized a laptop, iPhone, external hard drive and other items.

He previously worked for the House Committee on Homeland Security as a counterterrorism advisor and investigator. He won an Emmy for his coverage of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.