Boys Scouts File for Bankruptcy After Onslaught of Sexual Abuse Accusations: ‘We Believe You’

The ⚜️Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

News of the filing comes after an onslaught of sexual abuse allegations have hampered the youth organization for decades. BSA says it is hoping the bankruptcy filing can help it re-organize its finances and properly compensate the victims of abuse.

“The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting,” Roger Mosby, president and chief executive officer of BSA, Fox News reports. “We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children.”

One attorney representing hundreds of victims from New York said the sex abuse cases were so numerous that this bankruptcy would be “bigger in scale” than anything else like it.

“You’re talking about thousands of perpetrators,” attorney Michael Pfau told the New York Daily News. “You’re talking about tens of thousands of victims. This will be the largest bankruptcy the country has ever seen, and likely one of the largest corporate bankruptcies.”

Along with the bankruptcy filing, BSA is also reportedly planning to set up a Victims Compensation Trust.

“While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process – with the proposed Trust structure – will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA’s important mission,” Mosby said