Justice Department watchdog finds flaws in FBI reporting on child sex crimes

WASHINGTON — The FBI is not reporting all suspected cases of child sexual abuse to appropriate law enforcement, according to a Justice Department oversight report released Thursday. The investigation found no evidence that the FBI complied with mandatory reporting requirements in about 50 percent of the cases reviewed by the inspector general.

The investigation found failings in how the FBI responded to allegations in some cases, even after improvements prompted by its handling of the case against the former U.S. gymnastics team doctor. Larry Nassar.

After reviewing 327 cases involving allegations of sex crimes against children, the inspector general found no evidence that suspicions of child abuse were reported to appropriate local law enforcement in 47 percent of cases. When reports were made, they were made within the 24-hour time frame required by Justice Department policy in only 43 percent of cases.

A senior FBI official acknowledged that the bureau made mistakes in its investigations of crimes against children but said the “vast majority of the work” was handled appropriately.

The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity in keeping with FBI ground rules, said the bureau has policies and processes in place to continue improving because “it’s a no-fail mission.”

“Keeping children safe is not just a priority for the FBI; it is a solemn duty that we are committed to fulfilling to the highest standards. The FBI’s efforts to combat crimes against children are among the most critical and demanding tasks we conduct,” the FBI said in a statement.

The report follows an investigation by the Justice Department’s inspector general into the FBI’s handling of sexual abuse allegations against Nassar. That investigation found that the FBI’s failure to promptly investigate the allegations against Nassar allowed the doctor to continue preying on his victims for months before his arrest in 2016.