Former diplomat, father of 3, charged with sexually abusing children during playdates in Washington, DC

An Australian nation, a former diplomat and economist Thomas Mahony arrested and charged for sexually exploiting minors in DC.

42-year-old Thomas Mahony, a former diplomat, an economist with the World Bank, thought-about the hero of the neighborhood, has been charged with sexually abusing three children in his neighborhood in DC. The incidents befell in 2023 and as just lately as in July 2025. Mahony, an Australian nationwide, was arrested final month although the primary criticism got here to the police in 2023 after one of the children reported that when she was on a playdate with Mahony’s children, Mahony supplied to assist her go to the lavatory after which assaulted her. All Mahony’s victims are beneath 10 years previous. The Washington Post reported that the US legal professional’s workplace in 2023 declined to prosecute Mahony on account of “consideration of the government’s burden of beyond a reasonable doubt”. All three minors advised investigators that that they had been at Mahony’s home taking part in with his children when the abuse occurred — watching a film, taking part in video video games or pretending to run a Target retailer, the report mentioned. “I really feel like I failed as a mom by trusting this individual,” a mother of one of the children said. Ahead of a hearing Thursday, prosecutors fought to keep Mahony jailed as he awaits trial, calling him a “significant flight risk.” They expressed concern that the Australian national would flee the country if released, pointing to his ties to the Australian Embassy, and noting that even if he surrendered his passport, he may be able to obtain another from the embassy. Prosecutors also told the court that they learned that Mahony’s wife was planning to move to Japan and then Australia and that Mahony’s parents had been packing up the apartment. A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department is aware of an Australian citizen’s arrest and stands “ready to provide consular assistance to any Australian citizen,” but did not answer questions about Mahony’s relationship with the Australian Embassy.Mahony’s LinkedIn profile shows that he was employed with the World Bank as an economist starting in January 2023. Reports said that his employment was terminated when they were informed of his arrest and charges on July 23.