By Allan Lengel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. on Tuesday upheld the 2021 firing of Indianapolis FBI agent Michael Langeman, who was accused of failing to properly investigate mass allegations of sexual assault involving USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. He was also accused of lying when confronted about his inaction in the case, which eventually led to multiple life sentences for the doctor.
Nassar was also affiliated with Michigan State University athletes.
Langeman, who worked for the FBI from 2002 until 2021, was accused in an internal Inspector General report of failing to follow basic investigative methods. He sued, claiming the discharge violated his constitutional rights.
“The OIG concluded that Langeman mishandled evidence and failed to refer allegations through the proper channels, which delayed the investigation by over a year and led to the abuse of seventy or more athletes during the delay,” the court said in its ruling.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 15, 2021 that Langeman was one of the agents in the Indianapolis Field Office who mishandled the case.
Langeman invoked the Fifth Amendment when asked to be interviewed by the Inspector General’s Office. But the OIG eventually compelled him to talk to investigators.
He sued the Justice Department, alleging he was denied his Fifth Amendment right to essentially save his job and reputation, and that the stigma from the high-profile case hampered future employment.
Read court ruling
