Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and others are suing the FBI for $1 billion for the mishandling of the Larry Nassar case
A group of 90 women, including Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney of the US Olympic gymnastics team, are suing the FBI for more than $1 billion in damages.
The women believe the FBI botched the investigation into former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse.
The women filed federal collective administrative claims against the FBI on June 8, according to a news release from the claimants’ legal team, stating that they were still being molested by Nassar despite reporting his behavior to the bureau in 2015.
The claimants say that the FBI “grossly disregarded its responsibilities” by not interviewing gymnasts who were willing to testify about the sexual abuse and by not sending the allegations to Michigan State University, where Nassar continued to “abuse kids,” according to the release.
The women also claim that the FBI failed to follow its “duty to report child abuse to relevant state and federal agencies” and lied to Congress, the media, and FBI headquarters about their lack of vigilance in the Nassar investigation.
The victims claim Nassar “continued his predatory behavior” and sexually attacked “about 90 young women and children” between July 2015 and September 2016, due to the FBI’s claimed carelessness.
Maroney, who won a gold medal at the Olympics, said in a statement that the FBI, the Department of Justice, the US Olympic Committee, and USA Gymnastics had “betrayed” her and the other survivors.
“After we poured out our hearts to the US Senate Judiciary Committee and begged for justice, I had some optimism that they would follow their word and hold the FBI accountable,” she added. “It is clear that the only way to get justice and peace is through the legal system.”
Nassar pleaded guilty in 2018 to molesting ten of the more than 265 patients who came forward to report that the doctor had assaulted them. Currently, he is serving a sentence of up to 175 years in jail.
“When Larry Nassar’s abuse of me was initially revealed in September of 2015, the FBI knew he was a risk to children,” Maggie Nichols, a Team USA and NCAA National Champion gymnast, said.
“They collaborated with USA Gymnastics and the USOPC for 421 days to keep this evidence hidden from the public, allowing Nassar to continue assaulting young women and girls.” It’s past time for the FBI to face some consequences.
Former USA Gymnastics President and CEO Kerry Perry made a statement after Nassar was sentenced in January 2018, praising the women who came forward to report his abuse and calling his conduct “despicable.”