US Gymnasts Testify About Sexual Abuse by Larry Nassar

Four medal-winning U.S. gymnasts shared their stories on Wednesday of being sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, according to NBC News.

They expressed frustration while recounting traumatic and graphic details during a Senate hearing on the FBI’s mishandling of the investigation into Nassar’s actions.

“I don’t want another young gymnast, or Olympic athlete, or any individual to experience the horror that I and hundreds of others have endured before, during and continuing to this day in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse,” Simone Biles, who has won 25 world championship medals and seven Olympic medals for Team USA, said in her opening statement.

Biles said the organizations that were created to protect athletes, such USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, “failed to do their jobs.” She also said the FBI “turned a blind eye.”

“We suffered and continue to suffer because no one at FBI, USAG or the USOPC did what was necessary to protect us,” she said. “We have been failed, and we deserve answers.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing came after a Justice Department inspector general report from July detailed the FBI’s mishandling of the case against Nassar. The report found that gymnasts contacted the FBI about sexual assault in 2015, but Nassar continued to treat gymnasts at Michigan State University, a high school and a gymnastics club until September 2016.

In 2017, Nassar pleaded guilty to abusing 10 of more than 265 women and girls who have come forward to say they were molested, NBC News reported. He will serve up to 175 years in prison.

Gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols also spoke during the hearing on Wednesday. They called for the institutions and people who should have protected them to be held accountable, NBC News reported.

Lawmakers asked the gymnasts what type of accountability they would like to see. Raisman said an independent investigation should look at connections between the FBI, USAG and USOCP.

“Nobody should be off limits. Nothing should be off limits,” she said. “I personally would like to see all three organizations completely investigated.”

Christopher Wray, who became the FBI director in 2017, apologized for the failure to investigate the claims said the agency is implementing changes such as mandatory training. He also said the FBI agent accused of failing to investigate the allegations was fired.

“That is inexcusable. That never should have happened, and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure it never happens again,” Wray said.

“I’d like to make a promise to the women who appeared here today and to all survivors of abuse. I am not interested in simply addressing the wrong and moving on,” he added. “It’s my commitment to you that I and my entire senior leadership team are going to make damn sure everybody at the FBI remembers what happened here in heartbreaking detail.”

Sources:

NBC News: “ ’We have been failed’: Simone Biles breaks down in tears recounting Nassar’s sexual abuse.”

U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General: “Investigation and Review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Handling of Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Former USA Gymnastics Physician Lawrence Gerard Nassar.”

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