The FBI has made strides in improving its handling of child sex abuse cases following the highly publicized Larry Nassar scandal, but a new inspector general report reveals that significant deficiencies remain.

The report, published on Thursday, highlights ongoing failures in critical FBI investigations, which, in some instances, have led to further victimization of minors, as the Washington Examiner reports.

The U.S. Department of Justice's Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, oversaw the audit that reviewed hundreds of FBI cases involving alleged hands-on sex offenses against children.

The audit spanned from October 2021 to February 2023, a period during which the FBI opened nearly 4,000 cases related to sex crimes against minors. Despite improvements made in the wake of the Nassar case, the audit found that 42 out of 327 reviewed cases required immediate attention due to significant lapses.

Inspector General Report Reveals Serious Lapses

The report, which delved into the FBI's handling of these sensitive cases, uncovered several alarming deficiencies. Among them was a seven-month period of inaction in one case, a delay that allowed the suspect to potentially victimize other minors.

In another instance, a case opened in late 2021 resulted in further victimization due to a 15-month delay in FBI action. This suspect was eventually indicted in June 2023 on multiple federal charges, including producing and possessing child pornography.

The report highlighted that these delays and lapses occurred despite the FBI's stated efforts to improve its response to child sex abuse cases. Inspector General Horowitz emphasized that "further improvements are needed," indicating that while progress has been made, the bureau's actions are still falling short in crucial areas.

Case Delays Lead to Further Victimization

One of the most concerning findings in the report was the case involving a sex offender whose actions led to the victimization of at least one additional minor during a 15-month period of FBI inaction. This case underscores the critical importance of timely intervention in protecting vulnerable children from further harm.

The audit further criticized the FBI for its lack of recent investigative activity, logical investigative steps, and failure to report suspected child abuse to appropriate agencies. Additionally, there were instances where leads were not appropriately pursued, and substantial non-compliance with FBI policies was noted.

FBI Acknowledges the Need for Continued Improvements

In response to the inspector general's findings, the FBI acknowledged that while they have made significant progress, there is still more work to be done.

"The FBI’s efforts combating crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding undertakings we do," the bureau stated. They emphasized their commitment to continuing to improve their response times and communication with local law enforcement agencies.

The report’s release comes two years after a 2021 inspector general report sharply criticized the FBI's Indianapolis Field Office for its mishandling of the Larry Nassar case. Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, was found guilty of sexually abusing hundreds of young athletes under the guise of medical treatment.

The previous report identified "fundamental errors" in the handling of Nassar's case, which allowed him to continue his abuse for over a year.

Reforms Following the Nassar Scandal

In the aftermath of the Nassar scandal, the FBI updated its policies, training, and systems for handling child sex abuse allegations. These reforms were designed to prevent future failures and ensure that cases involving vulnerable children receive the urgent attention they require.

However, as the new report indicates, these changes have not been entirely successful in eliminating delays and other deficiencies in the bureau's investigative process.

The Nassar case had a significant impact on public trust in the FBI, particularly after Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, among over 100 of Nassar's victims, sued the government over the FBI's failures. This lawsuit resulted in a $138.7 million settlement in April, underscoring the serious consequences of the bureau's past mistakes.

Conclusion

Despite the FBI's efforts to improve its handling of child sex abuse cases in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal, a recent inspector general report reveals that critical deficiencies persist.

The audit, which reviewed hundreds of cases from 2021 to 2023, found that several investigations were marred by delays, leading to further victimization of minors.

While the FBI has acknowledged the need for continued improvements, the report highlights that more work is needed to protect the most vulnerable members of society. The bureau's commitment to addressing these issues will be essential in restoring public trust and ensuring that similar failures do not occur in the future.