January 1, DC Elite Lobbyist Charged With Child Porn In Mall Scandal

Wyatt’s Take

• A powerful Washington health care lobbyist got caught secretly filming women and a 16-year-old girl inside a Virginia mall
• Police found dozens of child pornography images on his devices after his arrest at Reagan National Airport
• The quick firing by his health coalition shows these elite insiders still face real consequences when caught

A well-connected Washington health care lobbyist now faces 34 criminal charges after police say he secretly recorded women and a teenage girl at a Northern Virginia shopping mall.

Shawn Gremminger, 44, was arrested August 27 at Reagan National Airport and remains locked up without bond. Fairfax County detectives say they found 30 counts of child pornography possession along with production and unlawful filming charges on his phone and electronics.

“During a search of Gremminger’s electronic devices, detectives discovered evidence indicating there may be additional victims,” local police stated.

The case started August 16 when shoppers spotted a man using his phone to film up the skirt of an 18-year-old woman. Mall cameras later caught him recording another young woman before he was confronted. One day earlier, police say he targeted a 16-year-old girl inside Victoria’s Secret while she shopped with what appeared to be his ex-wife and daughter.

“The Board of Governors took immediate action to fire the former president and CEO,” the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions said in a statement, adding the charges are “unrelated to the organization’s members, funders, finances, programs or operations.”

Gremminger had served as president and CEO of the coalition until September 4. The group quickly named Chief of Staff Jenny Goins as interim leader and says it will keep pushing its mission of value, quality, and accountability in health care.

His next court date on the misdemeanor filming charges is October 21 in Fairfax County General District Court. Hearings on the felony child pornography and production charges are set for November 20 and December 2.

Wyatt Matters

Hard-working families expect leaders in powerful positions to follow the same rules as everyone else. When DC insiders cross the line, swift justice protects our communities and shows that no title or salary buys immunity from the law.