A scathing report from the Department of Justice’s Inspector General has revealed that the FBI has failed to properly handle child sexual abuse cases, despite reforms intended to address past failures. The review found that in nearly 50% of cases between 2021 and 2023, the FBI did not comply with mandatory reporting requirements, leaving many incidents of unforgivable child abuse unchecked.
The report, which analyzed over 300 cases, shows that the FBI failed to report suspected child abuse to local authorities in a timely manner in more than half of the incidents. Even when the FBI did take action, it did so within the required 24-hour window in just 43% of cases, casting doubt on the bureau’s commitment to protecting children from horrific abuse.
One case highlighted in the report involved a delay of more than a year before the FBI took action on an allegation against a registered sex offender. During this period, the offender reportedly continued to abuse another victim, illustrating the devastating impact of the FBI’s inaction.
This report comes on the heels of the FBI’s earlier failures in the Larry Nassar investigation, where the bureau’s delayed response allowed Nassar to continue his sexual abuse for months before he was finally apprehended in 2016. Despite promises of reform, the new findings suggest that the FBI still struggles with effectively managing and reporting critical cases involving child abuse.
A senior FBI official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged these mistakes but defended the bureau by citing challenges such as high caseloads, an increase in tips, and budget cuts. However, these explanations are unlikely to assuage public concerns about the FBI’s ability to safeguard children from disgusting child abuse.
The report underscores the urgent need for the FBI to address these critical deficiencies in its handling of child abuse cases. The agency’s ability to protect vulnerable children from such abuse remains in question, demanding immediate and effective reforms.
