The FBI came under fire after the Justice Department released a new investigation that showed that the agency initially ignored allegations of sexual abuse against former US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar and later tried to cover up its mistakes.
119 pages The Department of Justice report found The FBI failed to investigate the serious allegations against Naxal. In 2015, several gymnasts reported Nassar’s misconduct to the FBI in Indianapolis.
It took the agency eight months to take any action against the doctor.An investigation initiated by the Justice Department in 2018 found that FBI offices in Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Portland, Maine had “very poor judgment”, which made Nasar Continue his sexual abuse.
On Thursday, the former U.S. team Gymnast Jessica HowardOne of the women who was sexually abused by Nassar criticized the FBI for failing to thoroughly investigate the early allegations against the doctor.
Howard said in an interview with the CBS program this morning: “I think I have started to expect nothing but you are talking about the FBI-the FBI is one of the most trusted agencies in our country. “. ”
“So it’s not that they just screwed up, nor that they fumbled and screwed up. They have actually affected the lives of at least 70 to 120 young girls.”
The report also revealed that two FBI officials lied to cover up their mistakes. Although one of the agents has retired, the agency said it has launched an internal investigation into another agent who “is no longer in charge.”
“Its size is shocking,” Howard said. “But it’s not that people screwed it up. It was people who turned and left. It was people who didn’t pay attention. It was people who decided not to take action. For me, this is the most heinous and heinous way you treat your children.”
More than 330 women and girls accused Naxal of sexual abuse.The doctor later received the fact life imprisonment These include sentences of 40 to 175 years for sexually assaulting minors and 60 years for child pornography.
Photo: AFP/RENA LAVERTY
