Justice Department watchdog finds flaws in FBI’s reporting of sex crimes against children
WASHINGTON — The FBI has failed to report all suspected cases of child sexual abuse to appropriate law enforcement agencies, despite changes made following the handling of the case against the former USA Gymnastics team doctor. Larry Nassaraccording to a report from the Ministry of Justice watchdog report released on Thursday.
In a review of more than 300 cases in 2021 and 2023, the inspector general found no evidence that the FBI complied with mandatory reporting requirements to local law enforcement in about 50 percent of cases. When the FBI did file a report, it did so within the 24-hour period required by Justice Department policy in only 43 percent of cases.
In one case, the FBI failed to take appropriate investigative action for more than a year after receiving an allegation of abuse by a registered sex offender, the report said. The individual was accused of abusing at least one other person over a 15-month period, and the FBI failed to act appropriately, the investigation found.
The investigation was triggered by the FBI’s failure to promptly investigate Larry Nassar. It found numerous problems with the agency’s handling of allegations of child sex crimes, and the inspector general reported 42 cases to the FBI in which he found concerns, including cases where there was no evidence the FBI had taken recent investigative steps.
A senior FBI official acknowledged that the bureau has made mistakes in investigating crimes against children, but said the “vast majority of the work” has been handled appropriately. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the FBI, said the bureau has policies and processes in place to continue improving because “this is a mission that will never fail.”
“Ensuring the safety and security of children is not only a priority for the FBI; it is a solemn duty to which we are committed to meeting the highest standards. The FBI’s efforts to combat crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding endeavors we undertake,” the FBI said in a statement.
While the FBI official acknowledged that mistakes were made, he cited the “overwhelming” burden on agents charged with investigating crimes against children, given the conduct involved, an influx of tips coming into law enforcement, the increased use of encrypted technology to conceal the crimes and budget cuts.
The report follows an investigation by the Justice Department’s inspector general into the FBI’s handling of sexual abuse allegations against Nassar, which found that the FBI’s failure to promptly investigate allegations against Nassar allowed the doctor to continue to harass victims for months before he was arrested in 2016.