An audit released Thursday by the Justice Department’s inspector general reveals that the FBI has continued to mishandle allegations of child sexual abuse even after its widely criticized handling of the investigation into Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor. The report highlights that these failures have left allegations unaddressed for months, allowing minors to continue being victimized.
The audit followed up on the scathing 2021 investigation into how the FBI dealt with the Nassar case. The inspector general found that the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office failed to treat the Nassar allegations with the necessary seriousness and urgency. They made several fundamental errors and neglected to notify state or local authorities, failing to mitigate the ongoing threat Nassar posed.
Despite implementing changes to reporting, investigating, and documenting child sexual abuse allegations, the inspector general’s audit found that FBI employees still often failed to properly report these allegations to local law enforcement. In nearly half of the 327 cases reviewed, there was no evidence that the FBI complied with the requirement to report to local authorities within 24 hours, as mandated by FBI policy. Only 17% of the cases were reported with all the required documentation.
In response to the audit, the FBI stated that ensuring the safety of children is a “solemn duty” and emphasized their commitment to implementing necessary improvements to maintain public trust and protect children.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department reached a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 of Nassar’s victims due to the FBI’s initial failures in investigating the 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 20 years.
source:CNN.COM