Simone Biles among group suing FBI for mishandling Larry Nassar sex abuse case

Indianapolis, Indiana - Olympic champion gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney are among 90 women who are suing the FBI for more than $1 billion for the failure to stop the rampant sexual abuse committed by former US women's team doctor Larry Nassar.

From l. to r.: Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols about the sexual abuse of Larry Nassar at a Senate Judiciary hearing.
From l. to r.: Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols about the sexual abuse of Larry Nassar at a Senate Judiciary hearing.  © SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP

The FBI has already admitted that its agents knew about Nassar’s abuse as early as 2015 but failed to act, allowing Nassar to continue his crimes for another year before his eventual arrest. Most who signed up to the FBI lawsuit say there were abused during this time period.

In 2018, Nassar, who served 18 years as the US women’s team head doctor, was sentenced to between 40 and 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of US gymnastics' most acclaimed athletes under the guise of providing "medical treatment."

"I just signed your death warrant," judge Rosemarie Aquilinatold told him proudly during his final hearing.

Champion gymnasts seek accountability

Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols are among 90 women who are suing the FBI
Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols are among 90 women who are suing the FBI  © SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP

The survivors of Nassar abuse are outraged that he was allowed to continue treating – and molesting – his victims on the national team and at Michigan State University, where he also hosted a clinic.

A Department of Justice investigation from 2021 found that agents from the FBI's Indianapolis office failed to properly submit the claims of abuse. The agents were all either fired or retired, but no criminal charges will be filed against them.

Victims of Nassar's abuse believe justice has not been served.

Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark headline Olympic US Women's National Team
Athletes Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark headline Olympic US Women's National Team

McKayla Maroney, who won the team gold medal at the 2012 London Games, said in a statement: "My fellow survivors and I were betrayed by every institution that was supposed to protect us – the US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI, and now the Department of Justice. It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process."

"It is time for the FBI to be held accountable," Maggie Nichols, a former US national champion, added.

Cover photo: SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP

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