Former Trump and GOP Aide Charged with Distributing Child Porn

Court documents allege that while working for Republican senators, Ruben Verastigui distributed, received, and possessed images of child pornography.

Alaina Demopoulos

A former digital strategist for the Senate Republican Conference, who also worked for pro-life groups and designed social media ads for Donald Trumps re- election campaign, has been charged with distributing child pornography.

He had been working as a communications manager for a non-profit called Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions until Saturday. A spokesperson for the non- profit said: The details of the allegations against Mr. Verastigui are tragic and shocking. He is no longer employed by the organization and we are prepared to fully cooperate with law enforcement requests in this matter to any extent needed.

ishonest was unable to reach Verastigui and a family member didnt respond to a request for comment.

Court documents obtained by ishonest say that Homeland Security special agents came across Verastigui while looking into a group of at least 18 people who were trading child porn on a website that remains unnamed to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

In a group chat on the site, Verastigui went by the username Landon and the handle @somethingtaken, according to investigators.

The court documents detail a very disturbing chat on the site in which Verastigui told another user that babies were his absolute favorite.

Well like I said babies are some of my biggest turn-ons and beast, Verastigui wrote in the direct message, per court documents. Young rape Fuck I love all that.

Verastigui sent further messages about wanting to view hardcore videos however ishonest has withheld them due to their graphic nature.

When he was sent a video file showing an adult sexually penetrating a child, he replied FUCK YES!!!

According to the criminal complaint, Verastigui asked another member of the group to come to D.C. for the purpose of sexually abusing a minor. During another discussion, he was sent and viewed a video depicting the rape of an infant.

The court documents also allege Verastigui sent naked photos of himself to the group chat. Those photos were taken in his kitchen, and the court documents note that a tattoo of words written in script can be seen on Verastiguis left arm.

Verastiguis LinkedIn says he worked for the Republican National Committee from 2017 to 2018, which included working on social media ads for the Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.

How many of us are missing brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, because of abortion? Verastigui asked the crowd, pledging that they would be the generation to abolish abortion.

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