“I have reviewed information that now makes clear to me that decades ago BSA did, in at least some instances, allow individuals to return to Scouting even after credible accusations of sexual abuse. I am devastated that this ever occurred. On behalf of BSA, I sincerely apologize to the individuals affected by this practice,”
(Paul Bedard – Washington Examiner) Despite an earlier denial to Congress, the Boy Scouts of America have now admitted that sexual predators were allowed to return to scouting “decades ago” even after “credible accusations of sexual abuse.”
In a new letter to Congress, Michael B. Surbaugh, chief Scout executive, said he was “incorrect” in an earlier letter denying that leaders suspected of abuse were allowed to return to scouting.
“When I sent my response to your November 20, 2018 letter, I believed in good faith, and with deeply felt conviction, that BSA would never have knowingly allowed a sexual predator to work with youth,” he wrote in a May 28 letter to California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who is leading a probe into Boy Scout abuse claims. [
Since then, however, Boy Scouts records dating back 100 years were released and showed that 12,254 children were allegedly abused by 7,819 Scout leaders.