Witness Claims No FBI Follow-up in Alleged In-flight Chatroom Incident Involving Jim Thornton
A passenger who photographed a laptop screen alleging that game show announcer Jim Thornton participated in a pedophile-themed chatroom says the FBI has not contacted her, despite promises from the LAPD.
A woman who says she captured images of a laptop screen showing alleged pedophile-related messages involving former "Wheel of Fortune" announcer Jim Thornton on an American Airlines flight says the Federal Bureau of Investigation has not reached out to her. The passenger reported that the Los Angeles Police Department informed her the FBI would be in touch, but she has not received any contact.
According to sources, the flight from Charlotte to Los Angeles in May featured a group chat that included references to "cute boys," a "hot little girl," and a phrase described as "All-you-can-eat Boyfett," which the passenger interpreted as a reference to underage children. One message contained the abbreviation "CP," which the passenger believed stood for child pornography.
The passenger alerted a flight attendant and shared the photographs with the crew. The captain reportedly notified authorities, and law enforcement was present when the aircraft landed at LAX. The passenger provided a statement to an LAPD officer, who said the information would be forwarded to the FBI.
Law enforcement officials briefly questioned Thornton, who was not arrested or charged. His attorney stated that Thornton left the chat after recognizing its content and "did nothing wrong." The FBI, adhering to its policy, declined to confirm or deny any investigation.