Years after the Larry Nassar case, the FBI still does not report all allegations of child sexual abuse

WASHINGTON (TN) — An internal government oversight agency found that the FBI failed to report some allegations of child sexual abuse to law enforcement and failed to comply with its reporting obligations.

The Inspector General of the US Department of Justice said in a report released on Thursday that in about half of the cases investigated he found no evidence that the FBI was complying with its reporting obligations.

The review of the FBI's reporting process for child sexual abuse cases follows an investigation into the agency's handling of former Michigan State University and U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. As a result, the FBI was ordered to pay settlements totaling $1 billion for gross mishandling of sexual assault allegations in 2015 and 2016, which allowed it to continue to victimize victims.

Nassar is serving a decades-long prison sentence for attacks on female athletes at Michigan State University and the U.S. national team, including Olympic champions.

The Justice Department acknowledged that it had not taken action, saying agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had taken no action on the allegations against Nassar for more than a year.

The government watchdog reviewed more than 300 cases of allegations of sexual crimes against children, but in 47 percent of cases there was no evidence that the abuse was reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities. In only 43 percent of cases was the report made within the 24-hour deadline required by the Justice Department.

“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.