The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly not contacted a witness who alleges she saw "Wheel of Fortune" announcer Jim Thornton in an online chatroom reportedly for individuals with pedophilic thoughts. The witness was informed by an LAPD officer that the FBI would follow up, according to TMZ.
In May, Thornton, 61, was photographed by a passenger on an American Airlines flight appearing to browse Lifeline.chat, a website described as being for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts. Law enforcement officials questioned Thornton upon the plane's arrival in Los Angeles. Thornton's attorney stated that his client did not engage in illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.
Sources told TMZ that the passenger who took the photos provided a full statement to an LAPD officer, who assured her the information would be relayed to the FBI. However, the witness has not been contacted by the federal agency since.
The FBI has stated that it does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations as a matter of policy. A representative for the FBI told TMZ, "The FBI does not, as a matter of policy, confirm or deny the existence of investigations."
Thornton was briefly questioned by authorities after the flight and was released without charges. He has since been terminated from his role as announcer for "Wheel of Fortune" following an initial suspension. A representative for Sony Pictures, which produces the show, confirmed the termination, stating, "Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton's employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately."
American Airlines confirmed that law enforcement met Flight 1276 upon arrival in Los Angeles on May 14, following concerns reported by a customer onboard.
Thornton's attorney, Allison Hart, previously stated that Thornton mistakenly accessed the website. Hart explained that Thornton had been involved in suicide-prevention advocacy and often visited the chat forum for 988lifeline.org. According to Hart, Thornton was sent a link to Lifeline.chat by an acquaintance from the suicide prevention group and left the site upon realizing its nature. The attorney asserted that the website does not contain unlawful content and that Thornton never viewed or downloaded child pornography.
Thornton, who began as the announcer for "Wheel of Fortune" in 2011, has also had roles as a voice actor in films such as Disney-Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." and "Wall-E," and appeared on "The Cleveland Show" and "Celebrity Deathmatch."