FBI agents who mishandled Larry Nassar investigation won't be charged, U.S. Justice Department says

DETROIT — The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday it will not pursue criminal charges against former FBI agents who failed to quickly open an investigation of sports doctor Larry Nassar despite learning in 2015 that he was accused of sexually assaulting female gymnasts.

The agency's inspector general found that two former agents likely provided «inaccurate or incomplete information» when investigators subsequently tried to understand what happened, but more would be needed to file charges, the department said.

«This does not in any way reflect a view that the investigation of Nassar was handled as it should have been, nor in any way reflects approval or disregard of the conduct of the former agents,» the department said.

The government last fall said it would take another look at an earlier decision to forgo charges. At the time, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told Congress that she had asked the newly confirmed head of the department's criminal division to review the case.

Nassar was a Michigan State sports doctor as well as a doctor at USA Gymnastics. He is serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including medal-winning Olympians.

Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics told FBI agents in 2015 that three gymnasts said they were assaulted by Nassar. But the FBI did not open a formal investigation or inform federal or state authorities in Michigan, according to the inspector general's report.

Los Angeles FBI agents in 2016 began a sexual tourism investigation against Nassar and interviewed several survivors but also didn't alert Michigan authorities, the inspector general said.

Nassar was finally arrested in November 2016 during an investigation by Michigan State University police.

At a Senate hearing