The Justice Department said it would not bring a charge against two former FBI agents accused of failing to properly investigate USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar after a thorough review of evidence.
The agency said in a news release that it stands by a previous decision against pursuing a criminal case for Michael Langeman and his now retired boss W. Jay Abbott, the agent in charge of the FBI's Indianapolis field office.
The Justice Department said that the decision came after multiple reviews and analyses of evidence gathered in the investigation of former agents. This does not reflect a view that the investigation of Nassar was handled as it should have been, nor does it reflect approval or disregard of the conduct of the former agents. The lead attorney for victims in Nassar case, John Manly, attacked the Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland for not charging the agents who violated their oaths of office and colluded in the cover up of the worst sexual assault scandal in the history of sports. The decision caused bipartisan outrage on Capitol Hill.
This decision is infuriating. FBI agents who knew of Larry Nassar's abuse did nothing, and then lied about it, and they will face no legal consequences for their actions, Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Jerry Moran of Kansas said in a joint statement.
The Department hasn't provided a public explanation for the decision, which is compounded by our frustrations. As we have noted before, the Justice Manual allows a case-closing letter explaining the Department's decision-making in similar situations, especially where law enforcement officers are accused of misconduct or criminal behavior. This case qualifies for such treatment. The Justice Department'sDepartment's criminal division initiated a new review of the agents in October, just months after the Justice Department s Office of Inspector General found that the couple had failed to address claims by gymnasts that they had been sexually abused by Nassar, with the urgency that the allegations required. The report also suggested that the two agents lied to investigators to make it appear that they had been diligent in responding to the sexual abuse allegations. The Justice Department'sDepartment's initial decision not to prosecute the agents prompted the re-review.
Nassar pleaded guilty in 2018 to abusing 10 of the more than 265 patients who came forward to say they had been molested. He is serving up to 175 years in prison.