Once again, we’re faced with a situation that, while shocking, might not be entirely surprising to those paying attention.

Stacie-Marie Laughton, the first openly transgender lawmaker in the United States, has admitted guilt to federal charges related to child sexual exploitation. Yes, you read that correctly. Once celebrated as a pioneering figure by the media, Laughton has turned out to embody the very concerns many had expressed: a cautionary tale cloaked in progressive imagery.

The 41-year-old, previously known as Barry Laughton, allegedly conspired with his former partner, Lindsay Groves, who was employed at Creative Minds, a daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. Together, they reportedly exploited children under five years old. According to federal investigators, Groves took explicit photos of toddlers and sent them to Laughton, who was serving as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives at the time.

Consider the implications: a lawmaker tasked with crafting legislation by day was, by night, involved in the exploitation of daycare images. For further details on the sentencing, you can read more here. RedState previously provided coverage on the charges against Laughton here.

Court documents reveal the pair exchanged thousands of text messages along with the images, during which Laughton allegedly expressed a desire to engage in sexual acts with the children. This goes beyond “inappropriate behavior”—it’s a profound moral failing.

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.