<p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601fb41367d1e300113c4ad0-2000/Ruben%20Verastigui.png" border="0" alt="Ruben Verastigui" data-mce-source="LinkedIn" data-link="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rverastigui/"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>A former <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/john-danforth-republican-party-caricature-principles-hawley-trump-2021-2">GOP</a> staffer, who once designed campaign ads for Trump, has been arrested on child pornography charges.</p><p>According to a <a href="https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/arrest-made-distribution-child-pornography-offense-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> from Washington, DC's Metropolitan Police Department, 27-year-old Ruben Verastigui was arrested on Friday on charges of distributing, receiving, and possessing images of child pornography, following an investigation that started last March.</p><p>Verastigui's <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rverastigui/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a> page shows a long history of working for Republicans and conservative causes.</p><p>When the investigation started, he worked as a digital strategist for the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/senate">Senate</a> Republican Conference, leaving that position in July to become communications manager at <a href="https://citizensfor.com/">Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions</a>, a conservative green energy non-profit.</p><div><h1></h1> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="3" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; width:100%; max-width:100%; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); width:540px"> <div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color:#c9c8cd; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/ByD_lh4HTC_/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_top">A post shared by Ruben Aaron Verastigui (@rubenaaronvera)</a>on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p> </div> </blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div><p>Verastigui appears to have been fired in the wake of his arrest.</p><p>"The details of the allegations against Mr. Verastigui are tragic and shocking," a spokesperson for the non-profit told <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-trump-and-gop-aide-ruben-verastigui-charged-with-child-pornography-offenses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Beast</a> on Saturday. "He is no longer employed by the organization and we are prepared to fully cooperate with law enforcement requests in this matter to any extent needed."</p><p>He also previously worked as a senior designer for the Republican National Committee from May 2017 to July 2018. Part of his role involved designing ads for then-President Donald Trump's re-election <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-shifted-money-into-indebted-private-business-forbes-2021-2">campaign</a>.</p><p>His work history also includes stints at various <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-maps-abortion-clinic-searches-anti-abortion-results-report-2019-9">anti-abortion</a> organizations.</p><p>The Daily Beast and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/06/ruben-verastigui-child-porn-charges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a> obtained court documents on Verastigui's arrest, giving more insight into the accusations.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-need-marjorie-taylor-greene-conspiracy-theory-wing-gop-2021-2">Republicans need the Marjorie Taylor Greene wing of the party, and she knows it</a></em></p><p>The documents detail how Homeland Security special agents came across Verastigui while looking for a group of at least 18 people who were trading child pornography on an unnamed website.</p><p>Verastigui sent messages to the group, saying he wanted to view "hardcore" videos, the records state.</p><p>At one point, Verastigui was alleged to have asked another member of the group to come to DC "for the purpose of sexually abusing a minor," according to the records.</p><div><h1></h1> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="3" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; width:100%; max-width:100%; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); width:540px"> <div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color:#c9c8cd; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/CIkCqAWHy6U/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_top">A post shared by Ruben Aaron Verastigui (@rubenaaronvera)</a>on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p> </div> </blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div><p>Verastigui admitted to being active on the website after his arrest on Friday, according to the court documents.</p><p>When reached for comment by The Post, a spokesperson for the Senate Republican Conference said: "We have just learned about this investigation and arrest. The individual has not worked at SRC since July 2, 2020."</p><p>Insider reached out to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee and the Republican National Committee, where Verastigui previously worked, but didn't immediately receive a response from either Sunday morning.</p><p>An email to Verastigui's attorney went unanswered Sunday morning.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-gop-and-senate-staffer-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges-2021-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/transgender-activist-former-white-house-intern-sarah-mcbride-isnt-discouraged-by-trump-2018-3">Sarah McBride made history becoming the first openly trans person elected to a state Senate seat. In 2018, she explained why the Trump administration wouldn't discourage her work.</a></p>
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