Gymnasts— Including Simone Biles — Seek $1 Billion From FBI Over Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Case
Whew! Socialites, get into this! Former Olympic gymnasts, including gold medalist Simone Biles, are among dozens of assault victims who are looking for more than $1 billion from the FBI for failing to stop sports doctor, Larry Nassar.
“The FBI knew that Larry Nassar was a danger to children when his abuse of me was first reported in September of 2015,” gymnast Maggie Nichols, a Team USA member, and NCAA National Champion, said in a statement. “For 421 days they worked with USA Gymnastics and USOPC to hide this information from the public and allowed Nassar to continue molesting young women and girls. It is time for the FBI to be held accountable.”
The former doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, is currently spending the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of abusing dozens of female athletes under the guise of medical treatment. As it was previously reported, the FBI received reports in 2015 that Nassar abused at multiple gymnasts. However, a Justice Department Inspector General report found that they did not open an investigation at that time. In 2016, Los Angeles FBI agents then began a sexual tourism investigation against Nassar and interviewed several victims. Despite that, the inspector general said the FBI didn’t alert Michigan authorities.
The disgraced doctor wasn’t arrested until fall 2016 during an investigation by Michigan State University police… since he was a doctor at Michigan State. The university agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted after also being accused of missing chances over many years to stop Nassar. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee made a $380 million settlement.
RELATED: Michigan State President Resigns After Saying Nassar Victims Were ‘Enjoying’ Spotlight
Gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, as well as Simone Biles are all part of a group of nearly 90 women bringing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the FBI.
Maroney said in a statement:
“My fellow survivors and I were betrayed by every institution that was supposed to protect us – the US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI, and now the Department of Justice. I had some hope that they would keep their word and hold the FBI accountable after we poured out our hearts to the US Senate Judiciary Committee and begged for justice. It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process.”
According to Fox News, FBI Director Chris Wray has apologized for the FBI’s failures during a Senate hearing:
“I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed. And that’s inexcusable,” Wray, who was not director at the time the FBI received its information, said at the time.