A recent report from the Justice Department watchdog revealed that the FBI has failed to report all suspected cases of child sexual abuse to local law enforcement agencies, despite changes made in response to the Larry Nassar case. The review found that in over 300 cases in 2021 and 2023, the FBI did not comply with mandatory reporting requirements in about 50% of the cases and only made timely reports in 43% of cases.
The report highlighted a case where the FBI did not take appropriate action for over a year after receiving an allegation of abuse by a registered sex offender, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked. The investigation was prompted by the FBI’s mishandling of the Nassar case and identified numerous problems in how the agency handles allegations of sex crimes against children.
While a senior FBI official acknowledged mistakes in handling these cases, they emphasized that the bureau is committed to improving and ensuring the safety of children. The FBI cited budget cuts, an overwhelming workload, and the use of encrypted technology as factors contributing to the challenges in investigating crimes against children.
The report comes on the heels of another inspector general inquiry into the FBI’s handling of sexual abuse allegations against Nassar, which found that the FBI’s failure to promptly investigate allowed the doctor to continue his abuse for months before his arrest in 2016. The FBI has stated that combating crimes against children is a top priority, but the recent report highlights ongoing challenges in fulfilling this duty.
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