FBI Yet to Contact Witness in Jim Thornton Chatroom Allegation
A passenger who claims to have observed Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton in a controversial online chatroom has not been contacted by the FBI, despite being told by LAPD that federal agents would follow up.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly not contacted a witness who claims to have seen Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton in an alleged 'pedophilia' chatroom. This comes despite an Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer informing the witness that the FBI would be in touch.
In May, Thornton, 61, was photographed appearing to browse Lifeline.chat, a website described as being for individuals experiencing pedophilic thoughts. The photos were taken by a passenger during an American Airlines flight from North Carolina to Los Angeles. Law enforcement officials questioned Thornton upon the plane's landing, though a lawyer for the announcer stated that his client "did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime."
Sources told TMZ that the passenger who took the photographs provided a full statement to an LAPD officer. This officer reportedly indicated that the information would be forwarded to the FBI. However, the witness has not heard from the agency, according to TMZ.
The FBI has stated to TMZ, "The FBI does not, as a matter of policy, confirm or deny the existence of investigations."
Thornton was suspended from Wheel of Fortune following the incident and has since been terminated from his position. A representative for Sony Pictures confirmed his termination was effective immediately after a thorough investigation.
American Airlines issued a statement regarding the event, noting, "On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard."
Thornton's attorney, Allison Hart, previously stated that Thornton visited the website by mistake. According to Hart, Thornton had been involved in suicide-prevention advocacy and often visited chat rooms offering support for those with suicidal ideation. He claims an acquaintance from a suicide prevention group sent him a link to Lifeline.chat, a different chatroom. Thornton asserts he left the site after realizing its nature. His lawyer maintained that the website did not contain unlawful content and that Thornton never viewed child pornography.
Thornton, who replaced Charlie O'Donnell as the announcer for Wheel of Fortune in 2011, is rarely seen on the show, which is currently hosted by Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest. He has also worked as a voice actor, with roles in films such as Monsters, Inc. and Wall-E, and had a brief stint as an announcer on The Price Is Right in 2004. He was also known for his work on the animated comedy The Cleveland Show and MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch.