The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) inspector general found a former official made false statements to authorities about accessing “sexually explicit” material on government computers, the federal watchdog disclosed Thursday.
According to the Justice Department watchdog, the unnamed ex-deputy assistant attorney resigned from his post before the investigation into the matter was complete.
The report said a forensic analysis of government computers showed the official viewed websites containing pornographic videos and images, a breach of Justice Department policy. Investigators stated that the former official searched for specific sexually explicit keywords.
“An OIG forensic examination of two DOJ computers issued to the DAAG determined that the computers contained data regarding numerous sexually explicit website searches, visits to websites hosting sexually explicit videos, sexually explicit search engine terms, and sexually explicit images,” reads the report.
Further, the watchdog revealed the former deputy assistant attorney lied to authorities when initially confronted about the matter, but later confessed once presented with proof from a forensic computer analysis.
The Justice Department will not bring criminal charges against the former official.
“The OIG has completed its investigation and provided a report to the DOJ employing division and to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility for their information,” the report concludes.