Durbin Statement on DOJ Decision to Again Decline Charges Against Former FBI Agents Who Mishandled Larry Nassar Abuse Case

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to again decline to bring charges against two former FBI agents accused of mishandling the sex abuse inquiry of former USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.

In September, after a DOJ Inspector General report documented the FBI’s failure to investigate reports that Larry Nassar was assaulting young athletes, which enabled the continued abuse of dozens of additional victims, Durbin held a Judiciary Committee hearing on the FBI’s dereliction of duty, with testimony from Olympic and world champion gymnasts, FBI Director Wray, and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz.  Shortly after this hearing, the Justice Department announced an internal review of its earlier decision to decline prosecution of the FBI agents who committed misconduct in the Nassar case.

“After our incredibly moving hearing with World Champion and Olympic gymnast survivors of Larry Nassar, I can say unequivocally that the insensitivity and deception of the FBI agents in this matter may not have been criminally actionable, but it was morally unforgivable.  The Senate Judiciary Committee will continue its oversight and legislative work in an effort to prevent such abuses in the future.”

Earlier this year, Durbin, along with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and a bipartisan group of Senate Judiciary Committee members, called on FBI Director Wray to provide additional details about the FBI’s approach to child sex abuse cases following its failures to properly investigate the Larry Nassar case.

-30-