FBI Director Christopher Wray opened up about the agency’s failures in dealing with the investigation into USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of several women.
“I want to be crystal clear, the actions and inaction of the FBI employees detailed in this report are totally unacceptable,” Wray said.
He added, “These individuals betrayed the core duty that they have of protecting people. They failed to protect young women and girls from abuse and the work we do certainly is often complicated and uncertain…but the kinds of fundamental errors that were made in this case in 2015 and ‘16 should never have happened.”
Wray claimed he is committed to doing everything in his power to make sure those mistakes never happen again.
He continued, “The FBI cannot carry out its vital mission of protecting the American people without trust and, in this case, FBI agents, certain FBI agents, broke that trust repeatedly and inexcusably. And to pretend otherwise would be yet one more insult to the survivors.”
Watch part of his testimony below:
FBI director Christopher Wray: "I want to be crystal clear: the actions and inaction of the FBI employees details in this report are totally unacceptable… they failed to protect young women and girls from abuse." https://t.co/ZovkhAlxy5 pic.twitter.com/nKZVG2dC3F
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 15, 2021
He also took a moment to apologize to the victims for the trauma they are faced with.
“I am deeply and profoundly sorry to each and every one of you,” Wray said.
He continued, “I am sorry for what you and [your] families have been through. I am sorry that so many people let you down over and over again, and I am especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back into 2015 and failed.”
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles delivered an emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday speaking out about her frustration with both Nassar and the system she claims allowed the abuse to happen.
“To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar, and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said.
A Justice Department Inspector General’s report found the FBI failed to act on complaints made by women against Nassar. He was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison in 2018.