Lawyers representing 13 women plan on suing the FBI for $130 million — $10 million for each individual — alleging that a “bungled investigation” by FBI agents led to additional abuse from former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State team doctor Larry Nassar.
“This was not a case involving fake 20 dollar bills or tax cheats,” attorney Jamie White said. “These were allegations of a serial rapist who was known to the FBI as the Olympic U.S. doctor with unfettered access to young women.”
According to ESPN, the women are not suing yet, but the FBI has six months to reply to the tort claim.
In September, gymnasts Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney shocked Congress, revealing details of the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of Nassar and blistering the FBI, which they say failed to act on repeated reports by American gymnasts, and may have even covered up evidence of an abusive system.
The hearing came days after FBI agent Michael Langeman was fired after failing to pursue an investigation into the gymnasts’ claims.
In July, the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General released a report criticizing Langeman — unnamed at the time — and his boss Jay Abbott for their handling of the Nassar case.
In 2015, Langeman interviewed Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney regarding her allegations that Nassar abused her. The report by the inspector general states that Langeman and Abbott never “officially opened an investigation” and lied to investigators about their actions. The report states that Abbott — who is retired — told the FBI to release false statements in 2017 saying that his office “expeditiously responded” to the allegations against Nassar.
Raisman said that it took over fourteen months for FBI agents to contact her after her report to USAG [USA Gymnastics] in June 2015 that Nassar abused her and that Nassar continued to sexually assault dozens of young women and girls during that time.
“From July 2015, when the allegations were first reported to the FBI, to September 2016, Nassar continued to treat gymnasts at Michigan State University, a high school in Michigan, and a gymnastics club in Michigan,” the report said. “Ultimately the investigations determined that Nassar had engaged in sexual assaults of over 100 victims and possessed thousands of images of child pornography, led to his convictions in federal and state court, and resulted in Nassar being sentenced to incarceration for over 100 years.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized in his September opening statements for the FBI’s failure to stop Nassar.
“I’m deeply and profoundly sorry to each and every one of you,” Wray said in his opening statement. “I’m sorry for what you and your families have been through. I’m sorry so many people let you down over and over again. And I’m especially sorry there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed, and that is inexcusable. It never should have happened, and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.”
In December, victims of Nassar reached one of the largest settlements for sex abuse ever recorded.
“USA Gymnastics, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and their insurers have agreed to fund a $380 million settlement with victims of longtime national team physician Larry Nassar, drawing to a close a five-year legal battle that has upended American Olympic sports governance,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
The settlement also included non-monetary provisions, “including requirements for self-identified survivors of abuse in gymnastics to have official roles in USA Gymnastics.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].