Staff Reports
The latest findings from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General are not exactly a holiday card from the FBI. This recent audit, aimed at evaluating how the Bureau handled reports of child sex offenses, effectively places the FBI in the crosshairs of public scrutiny yet again, following the fallout from the Lawrence Nassar scandal that rocked both the gymnastics world and the broader conversation about institutional accountability.
While the FBI’s oversight and performance were under review, one can’t help but chuckle at the sheer ineptitude displayed by what is supposed to be America’s premier law enforcement agency. With allegations of child sexual abuse lingering under their watch, the Bureau seemingly couldn’t find its way out of a paper bag filled with red tape. After the Nassar case raised concerns about their handling of child abuse allegations, you’d think they would have tightened up their act. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.
A Justice Dept. watchdog report rebukes the FBI for its handling of child sexual abuse cases, citing deficiently handled abuse allegations over a 16-month period.
“The FBI had a systemic problem that it failed to address,” Alex Mallin reports. https://t.co/nXrnBagMC1 pic.twitter.com/T8KvfHNHBD
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) August 29, 2024
In a prime example of delayed justice, the audit revealed that in December 2021, the FBI received a tip about a registered sex offender engaging in sexual activity with a minor—even crossing state lines to do so. However, the FBI didn’t bother to get the ball rolling on the investigation until two weeks later. To make matters worse, there was no indication that the victim even received the support they deserved. Apparently, “urgent” is just a suggestion for the FBI when it comes to protecting children.
Then there’s the spine-tingling tale from May 2022, when an anonymous tip about sex trafficking of minors landed on the FBI’s desk. You would think that such a serious matter would be treated with the urgency it warrants. Yet, the field office only began investigating between five and eight months after receiving the complaint. This doesn’t just raise suspicions; it begs the question of whether the FBI needs a crash course in promptness.
The findings of this audit would be comical if the consequences weren’t so devastating. Children were left vulnerable while the Bureau bumbled around like a toddler trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Thanks to the Bureau’s stunning lack of action, children were effectively left at the mercy of predators while the FBI prioritized… well, who even knows what?
With numerous recommendations for reform laid out in the audit, one can only hope that this wake-up call resonates with the Bureau. Faith in law enforcement’s ability to protect the most vulnerable seems to be dwindling daily, and unless the FBI learns to step up its game, they’ll continue swinging and missing in a league where children’s safety should never be an afterthought.
