WASHINGTON – Multiple FBI field offices failed to
promptly and properly respond to repeated allegations of sexual abuse of
Olympic gymnasts and other young athletes by Olympic Physician Larry Nassar,
according to a Justice Department Inspector General
report
released today. That investigation was
initiated after Sen. Chuck
Grassley (R-Iowa)
led
an effort in Congress to examine the FBI’s handling of the case. Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:
“We
should be able to count on the FBI to take allegations of sexual abuse
seriously and act swiftly to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable.
Today’s report confirms my fears that, in this case, the FBI failed to live up
to its mission. Sadly, this failure allowed more children to face terrible
abuse at the hands of someone who habitually exploited his position of trust to
prey on the most vulnerable. I’m grateful for the Inspector General’s diligence
in shining a light on this case. It’s now up to Director Wray to hold bad
actors accountable. The FBI must learn from its failures and take correct
actions to ensure this never happens again,’ Grassley said.
As
chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 2017, Grassley
convened
the first congressional hearing on
protecting young athletes from sexual abuse, and
co-authored
legislation requiring amateur athletic organizations to report instances of
sexual abuse. He also
conducted
oversight into the U.S. Olympic Committee’s response following the Nassar
scandal and
crafted
legislation to improve safeguards for young athletes, protect
whistleblowers and ensure proper use of funds designed to investigate
allegations of abuse. Grassley’s efforts were included in a
package
that later became law.
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