Story at a glance
- The inspector general’s investigation kicked off following allegations the FBI did not adequately address numerous complaints made against Nassar in 2015.
- The missteps include the failure to document a July 2015 meeting with USA Gymnastics when the FBI first received allegations against Nassar, failure to document relevant evidence and failure to interview victims.
- FBI officials also provided incomplete and inaccurate information when their investigation came under scrutiny.
A new report from the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) says the FBI seriously mishandled its investigation into sexual abuse allegations against former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar.
The inspector general’s investigation kicked off following allegations the FBI did not adequately address numerous complaints made against Nassar in 2015.
“Senior officials in the FBI Indianapolis Field Office failed to respond to the Nassar allegations with the utmost seriousness and urgency that the allegations deserved and required, made numerous and fundamental errors when they did respond to them, and violated multiple FBI policies when undertaking their investigative activity,” the report said.
The report says after eight months of inaction by the Indianapolis office, the FBI Los Angeles Field Office received the same allegations but failed to notify local authorities or take steps to mitigate the ongoing threat posed by Nassar.
Nassar continued to treat gymnasts from the time allegations were first reported to the FBI in July 2015 through September 2016.
Among the missteps include the failure to document a July 2015 meeting with USA Gymnastics when the FBI first received allegations against Nassar, failure to document relevant evidence and failure to interview victims.
FBI officials also provided incomplete and inaccurate information when their investigation came under scrutiny.
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The FBI said it accepted the report’s findings and vowed to make necessary changes.
“The actions and inactions of certain FBI employees described in the report are inexcusable and a discredit to this organization. The FBI has taken affirmative steps to ensure and has confirmed that those responsible for the misconduct and breach of trust no longer work FBI matters,” the bureau said in a statement.
Nassar is serving an effective life sentence for federal child pornography crimes and assaulting several girls and women in Michigan during his time as a sports physician. He has been accused of assaulting hundreds of victims, including Olympians Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles.
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