U.S. Lawmakers Launch Sexual Abuse Probe of Youth Sports Giant AAU

ProPublica · Molly Hensley-Clancy · 2026-10-08 18:15 UTC

Bipartisan leadership of a powerful House committee demanded answers from the Amateur Athletic Union after a ProPublica and Washington Post investigation found that the massive youth sports organization has failed to protect kids from sexual abuse.

What Happened: Bipartisan leaders from the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee launched an inquiry on Wednesday into the Amateur Athletic Union, criticizing the sprawling youth sports organization for its handling of child sexual abuse allegations and demanding answers, citing reporting by ProPublica and The Washington Post.

What They Said: “It is unacceptable that AAU is failing to implement standard reforms to protect child athletes, and is misleading the public, parents, and athletes about preventative measures in place within AAU sports,” the letter reads.

The committee chair, Kentucky Republican Brett Guthrie, called ProPublica and The Post’s reporting “deeply disturbing” in a statement on Thursday, saying it “raises serious questions about the organization’s actions over the past decade.”

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