DETROIT aEUR “Ex-Olympic gymnasts, including Simone Biles, are among the dozens of victims of assault who are seeking more that $1 billion from FBI because Larry Nassar failed to stop them, lawyers stated Wednesday.
It is clear that FBI agents in 2015 knew Nassar was being accused of molesting gymnasts. But they didn’t act. This allowed Nassar to continue his attacks on young girls for over a year.
Maggie Nichols, who was a 2017 national champion gymnast at Oklahoma, stated that it was time for the FBI “to be held accountable”.
Federal law gives a government agency six months to respond the tort claims made Wednesday. Depending on how the FBI responds, lawsuits may follow. In May, the Justice Department stated that it would not bring criminal charges against any former FBI agents for failing to open an investigation quickly.
Biles, McKayla Martoney, and Aly Raisman are among the 90 claimants, who were all Olympic gold medalists according to Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, a California-based law firm.
Samantha Roy, a former University of Michigan gymnast, stated that if the FBI had done its job, Nassar could have been stopped before he had the opportunity to abuse hundreds of girls including me.
USA Gymnastics, an Indianapolis-based company, told FBI agents that three of its gymnasts claimed they had been assaulted in 2015 by Nassar (a team doctor). According to an internal watchdog, the Justice Department’s inspector General, the FBI didn’t open an investigation nor inform federal or state authorities.
The inspector general stated that in 2016, Los Angeles FBI agents began a sexual-tourism investigation against Nassar. They interviewed many victims, but didn’t notify the authorities from Michigan.
During an investigation by the Michigan State University police, Nassar was not arrested until fall 2016. He was a Michigan State doctor.
While Nassar was ultimately charged with assault, the Michigan attorney general’s Office handled the case, while federal prosecutors in Grand Rapids (Michigan) filed a child pornography charge. He is currently serving many decades in prison.
In April, the FBI refused to comment on a smaller number of claims. Instead, Director Christopher Wray’s comments to Congress in 2021 was referred to.
“I am particularly sorry that people at the FBI had their chance to stop this monster in 2015, but failed. “And that’s unacceptable,” Wray said to victims during a Senate hearing.
Michigan State University was also accused of failing to take action over many years in order to stop Nassar. It agreed to pay $500 million for more than 300 victims. USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement.
