DOJ Report Exposes FBI’s Failure To Report Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Children
A recent report from the Department of Justice’s Inspector General has revealed alarming shortcomings in the FBI’s handling of sexual abuse cases involving children. Despite efforts to improve after the agency’s notorious mishandling of the Larry Nassar case, the report indicates that the FBI has repeatedly failed to comply with mandatory reporting requirements, leaving many cases of disgusting child abuse unaddressed.
The Inspector General’s audit, which reviewed over 300 cases from 2021 to 2023, found that in nearly half of these cases, the FBI did not report suspected abuse to local law enforcement as required. When the FBI did make a report, it only did so within the mandated 24-hour window in 43% of the cases. This negligence raises serious concerns about the FBI’s capacity to protect children from unforgivable abuse.
One particularly disturbing incident highlighted in the report involved the FBI delaying action for over a year after receiving allegations against a registered sex offender. During this time, the offender was able to continue his abuse, demonstrating the dire consequences of the FBI’s inaction.
The report’s release comes as a stark reminder of the FBI’s previous failures in the Larry Nassar investigation, where delays in responding to allegations allowed Nassar to continue his predatory behavior for months before his eventual arrest in 2016. These new findings suggest that despite promises of reform, the FBI still struggles to effectively manage and report these critical cases.
A senior FBI official acknowledged these failures but maintained that the majority of the bureau’s work in this area has been handled appropriately. The official cited factors like overwhelming caseloads, an influx of tips, and budget constraints as challenges the FBI faces. However, these justifications are unlikely to appease those who are deeply concerned about the agency’s ability to fulfill its duty to protect children from horrific abuse.
The report calls for urgent action to address these critical shortcomings in the FBI’s handling of child abuse cases, as the safety of countless children remains at risk. It also calls into question the competence and ethics of the Biden-Harris administration’s FBI.
