A new report from a Department of Justice watchdog has accused the FBI of mishandling some child sexual abuse cases.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General published a report titled “Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Handling of Tips of Hands-on Sex Offenses Against Children,” which sought to review the FBI’s response to sexual abuse incidents against children.
The report focused on the FBI’s response to these types of cases following changes made in response to the case against Larry Nassar, a former Team USA gymnastics doctor, who previously pleaded guilty to molesting 10 girls and possessing child pornography, leading to a 60-year prison term in December 2017.
“This audit was intended to follow up on issues identified in the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) July 2021 report on the FBI’s handling of allegations against Lawrence Gerard Nassar (OIG Nassar Report) and respond to congressional inquiries regarding the FBI’s practices to protect children,” the report said.
The seal of the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC on March 21, 2024. On Thursday, a Department of Justice watchdog published a report on the FBI’s mishandling of child sexual abuse cases.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images
A review of over 300 cases from 2021 and 2023 by the inspector general found that the FBI failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements to local law enforcement about half the time. In cases where the FBI did report, it met the Justice Department’s 24-hour deadline in only 43 percent of instances.
“For this audit, we reviewed the FBI’s compliance with policies and laws governing its handling of allegations of hands-on sex offenses against children focusing particularly on corrective measures made since the OIG Nassar Report,” the report said. “Our audit revealed instances where FBI employees did not comply with relevant law or policy for (a) mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, (b) victim services, (c) transferring incidents between field offices, and (d) responding to allegations of active and ongoing child sexual abuse within 24 hours.”
The report detailed one instance where the FBI waited over a year to take appropriate investigative action after receiving an allegation of abuse by a registered sex offender. During that time, the offender allegedly abused at least one other person over a 15-month period while the FBI failed to act, the report revealed.
In a statement obtained by the Associated Press (AP), the FBI said, “Ensuring the safety and security of children is not just a priority for the FBI; it is a solemn duty that we are committed to fulfilling with the highest standards. The FBI’s efforts combating crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding undertakings we do.”
The report also said that the inspector general’s office notified the FBI of 42 cases where they found concerns. However, the report found no evidence of the FBI working to further investigate these specific cases.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
