Justice Department criticizes FBI handling of allegations against USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar

In a scathing report Wednesday, the Justice Department’s inspector general said FBI officials investigating allegations of sexual abuse by disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar violated the agency’s policies by making false statements and failing to properly document complaints by the accusers.

The inspector general opened an investigation in 2018; in June 2020, more than 120 of the survivors asked DOJ to release the inspector general’s findings. In a statement, the FBI said in a statement that the “actions and inactions of certain FBI employees described in the report are inexcusable and a discredit to this organization,” adding that it has taken action to “ensure and has confirmed that those responsible for the misconduct and breach of trust no longer work FBI matters.”

The 57-year-old Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor, pleaded guilty in November 2017 to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct for using his profession as a cover to sexually abuse his patients. He also pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges and separate state criminal sexual conduct charges.  Nassar is serving a 40-to-174-year state prison sentence after 156 women and girls said he sexually abused them over a course of 20 years; he is currently housed at the high security United States Penitentiary Coleman II in Sumterville, Florida.