Topline
The U.S. Department of Justice is reopening its investigation into how the Federal Bureau of Investigations handled the allegations of sex abuse against Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics coach. It will also review its decision not to prosecute two agents who were accused of mishandling this case.
A trio of US Olympic gymnasts, Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, arrive in the United States to give evidence... [+] at a September Senate Judiciary hearing. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
During a hearing on the Violence Against Women Act, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco informed the Senate Judiciary Committee that a review has been opened by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, Jr. Monaco didn't provide any further details as she was limited in what she could share.
Important Quote
Monaco stated Tuesday that Monaco wanted survivors to know how serious we take this matter and believed it deserved a thorough review.
Tangent
Following emotional testimony at a Senate Judiciary Hearing last month, four elite gymnasts claimed that the FBI and gymnastics organizations enabled and perpetrated Nassar’s abuse. Simone Biles, the most decorated U.S. gymnast, made the claim. Aly Raisman was the captain of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. She said that the FBI did not perform their basic duties and allowed Nassar to access children for one year after being informed of the allegations. She described the FBI's decision to allow Nassar access to innocent children as a pedophile who gets a silver platter.
Important Background
The Office of the Inspector General published a July report showing that the FBI Indianapolis office failed to handle reports against Nassar in a manner that was unacceptable. In 2015, victims had reported that Nassar had abused them sexually. This allowed the FBI to abuse 70 more victims before Nassar was finally arrested in January 2020. The Justice Department decided not to prosecute the two agents named in the report in 2020. After pleading guilty, Nassar was convicted and sentenced to up 175 years imprisonment.
Continue reading
Simone Biles and other elite gymnasts slam FBI for failed Nassar investigation (Forbes).
FBI Mishandled Investigation into Disgraced Gymnastics Coach Larry Nassar. DOJ Says (Forbes).
