They have copies of CP collected as evidence, therefore they are distributing it? By this logic, the DEA evidence locker might make them the biggest crack dealer in the US.
The FBI has, on multiple admitted occasions, ran both honeypots for CP, and on seizing a CP site, continued to run it for multiple months to get more suspects.
I have no issue with the intent, and such things are - in a restricted manner - allowed for, see prostitution stings.
But the fact that they -do- distribute CP is verifiable fact.
and the fact that they hold large amounts of CP -- which is the wording the prior post used -- is also verifiable fact.
I'm not even concerned that they hold it. Sometimes it's evidence. Sometimes it can be used to identify and rescue victims. Sometimes it just goes in a database and isn't ever accessed again. Meh.
The continued distribution is concerning, though I understand its purpose, and I presume there are reasonable safeguards in place such that the value in catching new suspects is higher than the harm done to the victims.
The only example I'm aware of, regarding your claim about the FBI operating a site for months, was not in fact the FBI continuing to operate a CP site. In that instance, they kept allowing attempts at signing up to access CP, they did not keep allowing access to the content; the FBI clarified that point when the story came out.