FBI failed to investigate USA Gymnastics abuser, watchdog finds

The FBI disregarded allegations about a prolific USA Gymnastics child abuser and later made serious errors in the investigation, a watchdog has found.

The long-awaited report gave a scathing assessment of the FBI’s investigation into former team doctor Larry Nassar. He is serving an effective life sentence for molesting young gymnasts. Numerous missteps and cover-ups by FBI agents allowed his abuse to continue for months after the case was first opened, the report found.

In a statement on Wednesday, the FBI acknowledged the findings, calling the handling of the Nassar file “inexcusable and a discredit to this organisation”.

“We will take all necessary steps to ensure that the failures of the employees outlined in the report do not happen again,” the agency said.

The 119-page report by the Department of Justice Inspector General found that despite the seriousness of the allegations against Nassar, the FBI field office in Indianapolis dragged its feet in responding.

In July 2015, following an internal review into Nassar, USA Gymnastics reported a number of allegations to the FBI in Indianapolis. After some “limited follow-up” that summer, the agency “did not undertake any investigative activity” on the case for more than eight months.

During that time, the report said, Nassar’s sexual assaults continued. Confronted by their mistakes, two FBI officials lied during interviews to cover up their errors, the report said.

At the time the allegations surfaced, one of the FBI agents, Jay Abbott, had been in discussions with USA Gymnastics officials about a job with the Olympic Committee.

Mr Abbott retired from the agency in 2018. The other, an unnamed employee, “is no longer a supervisor”, the FBI said on Wednesday, and will not work on FBI matters until an internal investigation is complete.

Mr Abbott’s lawyer, Josh Minkler, said in a statement to Reuters news agency that his client “thanks the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who brought Larry Nassar to justice”.