Former CNN producer pleads guilty to child sex crime
An ex-CNN producer admitted that he paid for a 9-year-old girl to fly across the country so he could sexually abuse her.
John Griffin, 45, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. As part of a plea deal, two other counts were dropped.
During the summer of 2020, Griffin paid for a woman and her 9-year-old daughter to fly from Nevada to Massachusetts, then drove them to his ski lodge in Ludlow, Vt., federal investigators said.
“At the house, the daughter was directed to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity,” authorities said. The girl later told police that Griffin sexually assaulted her.
Griffin was arrested in December 2021. In charging documents, police said that Griffin used messaging apps to tell parents that girls should be trained to be subservient to men and that a “woman is a woman regardless of her age,” among other disturbing ideas.
The perv producer attempted to convince multiple parents to visit the ski lodge, but only succeeded once, according to the feds.
CNN fired Griffin after he was arrested. In his LinkedIn profile, Griffin said he produced Chris Cuomo’s show “New Day” and worked “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Cuomo.
As part of the plea deal, Griffin must register as a sex offender. He faces 10 years to life in prison, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for March 20, 2023.
With News Wire Services
