An audit by the Justice Department's inspector general has revealed that the FBI has continued to mishandle allegations of child sexual abuse, even after the high-profile case involving disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The audit found that due to these failures, allegations of sexual abuse against children were left unaddressed for months, leading to further victimization of minors.
One alarming example highlighted in the audit was the FBI's failure to follow up on a tip about child abuse by a registered sex offender for over a year. This lack of action resulted in another child being abused for 15 months. Additionally, the bureau neglected to report the allegation to local law enforcement and the abuser's probation officer.
The inspector general also noted a case where a 2-year-old was being sexually abused while an investigation languished for over two years without any documented steps taken to safeguard the child. The agent assigned to the case was reportedly overwhelmed with multiple investigations.
While a senior FBI official defended the bureau, acknowledging compliance issues and improper documentation, they also admitted that there were instances where investigative steps should have been taken, deeming these failures as 'completely unacceptable.'
The audit was a follow-up to the FBI's handling of the Nassar investigation, which revealed that senior officials failed to respond to the allegations with the necessary seriousness and urgency. Despite implementing changes in reporting and investigating child sexual abuse allegations, the inspector general found that FBI employees still struggled to comply with reporting requirements to local law enforcement.
FBI Director Christopher Wray had previously apologized for the failures in the Nassar case and vowed to prevent such incidents from occurring again. The FBI reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of children, stating that it is a solemn duty that they are dedicated to fulfilling with the highest standards.
The Justice Department reached a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 of Nassar's victims earlier this year due to the FBI's initial failures in investigating the sexual assault case. Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing young athletes under the guise of medical treatment over a span of two decades.
