WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has failed to report some allegations of child sexual abuse to local law enforcement or social services, even after changes prompted by its handling of the case against the former U.S. gymnastics team doctor. Larry Nassaraccording to a report by the Ministry of Justice Watchdog report published on Thursday.
In a review prompted by the FBI's failure to promptly investigate Nassar, the inspector general found that serious problems remain that pose a risk that allegations of child sexual abuse will slip through the cracks as overworked agents work dozens of cases simultaneously. In one case, a victim was abused for 15 months after the FBI first received a tip about a registered sex offender, the report said.
“This report makes it clear that the FBI is simply not doing its job when it comes to protecting our children from the monsters among us who are stalking them,” said John Manly, an attorney representing Nassar victims. “Despite years of promises and numerous congressional hearings, it is now clear that the Larry Nassar scandal could be repeated today.”
While a senior FBI official acknowledged that the bureau had made mistakes in investigating crimes against children, he said the “vast majority of the work” had been done appropriately.
“Ensuring the safety of children is not just a priority for the FBI; it is a solemn duty that we must fulfill with the highest standards. The FBI's efforts to combat crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding missions we perform,” the FBI said in a statement.
The investigation followed a scathing 2021 report that found the FBI failed to take action against Nassar, allowing the doctor to continue exploiting victims months before his arrest in 2016. The FBI has made many changes, but the inspector general says more are needed to protect children.
In a review of more than 300 cases between 2021 and 2023, the FBI Inspector General flagged 42 cases that required “immediate attention” because there was no evidence of recent investigative steps or because other concerns existed, the report said.
The inspector general found no evidence that the FBI followed rules requiring allegations to be reported to local law enforcement about 50 percent of the time. When the FBI reported an allegation to law enforcement or social services, it followed the FBI policy of reporting it within 24 hours only 43 percent of the time, the report said.
The FBI accepted all of the report's findings and recommendations. Among the changes the FBI has committed to is developing a training program for investigators and supervisors that focuses not only on investigative techniques but also on the FBI's own policies and procedures.
Most of the incidents the inspector general brought to the FBI's attention “reflected inadequate documentation of completed investigative steps or involved investigations where no further action was required,” Michael Nordwall, deputy director of the FBI, wrote in a letter accompanying the report.
While the FBI admitted mistakes, it pointed to the “overwhelming” workload on agents tasked with investigating crimes against children given the nature of the crimes. Law enforcement agencies have also received an increasing number of tips, resulting in the increased use of encrypted technology to conceal the crimes and budget cuts.
Citing an agent who juggled around 60 investigations, the inspector general said special agents “have to constantly sort through their caseload.” The inspector general said the FBI needs to develop a plan to manage the growing caseload and ensure agents are able to handle the cases entrusted to them.
The report published in 2021 complained that the FBI did not treat Nassar's case with the “utmost seriousness and urgency” and that when it finally took action, it made numerous errors and policy violations. Nassar pleaded guilty in 2017 to sexually harassing gymnasts and other female athletes with his hands under the pretext of medical treatment for his hip and leg injuries.
The FBI called the actions of officials involved in the Nassar investigation “inexcusable and a disgrace” to the organization. In April, the Justice Department announced: an agreement for $138.7 million with more than 100 people accusing the FBI of gross mishandling of the allegations against Nassar.
___
Associated Press reporter Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(742x162:744x164)/gabby-petito-with-dad-joe-4749-b757cdc7b4fd48e5ab9a0e594bafc4c4.jpg "Gabby Petito's father marks the third anniversary of her murder")
