On Wednesday, gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman urged U.S. senators to investigate dozens of complaints of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar after the botched FBI inquiry, according to Florida Phoenix.
The gymnasts also urged senators to conduct a detailed investigation on the institutions that enabled the abuse.
Nassar is the team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a former Michigan State University physician.
Biles said the FBI, USA Gymnastics, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee turned a “blind eye” on the sexual abuse that Nassar carried out with hundreds of young athletes, per the news outlet.
The 24-year-old artistic gymnast said, “I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse.”
Nassar is currently serving a 40-to-175-year sentence in prison after more than 150 women and girls said he sexually abused them.
Michael Horowitz, the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Justice, said in his opening statement, “As our report further details, Larry Nassar’s abuses very well could and should have been stopped sooner if appropriate action had been taken by the FBI in response to the courageous actions of these athletes.”
“Not only did that not occur, but after the FBI agents’ inadequate and incompetent response came to light, FBI records were created that falsely summarized the testimony of an athlete who had spent hours detailing the abuses she endured, and inaccurately described the FBI’s handling of the matter,” he added.
Another gymnast Maggie Nichols of Minnesota said that she and countless other survivors do not understand how no one from the FBI, USA Gymnastics of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has faced federal charges.
She said, “For many hundreds of survivors of Larry Nassar, this hearing is one of our last opportunities to get justice. We ask that you do what is in your power to ensure those that engaged in wrongdoing are held accountable under the law.”
Christopher Wray, FBI Director, also testified at the hearing. He apologized to the gymnasts for the FBI’s handling of the investigation.
He said, “We need to remember the pain that occurred when our folks failed to do their job,” adding that the agency has implemented new training programs to ensure that the failure is not repeated.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa asked the gymnasts what other investigations should be conducted. He said, “First of all, it’s not enough just to commend you for your bravery of speaking out, but by your speaking out, you’re helping out not only young women but wherever there might be the abuse you talk about. But thank you for coming forward.”
Raisman said that an independent investigation into USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the FBI is needed in order to understand “how and why USAG and USOPC chose to ignore abuse for decades and why the interplay among these three organizations led the FBI to willingly disregard our reports of abuse.”
She added, “I and these women who sit before you now know firsthand these organizations and their public statements are not to be trusted.”
“Without knowing who knew what when we cannot identify all enablers or determine whether they still are in positions of power,” she added. “We just can’t fix a problem we don’t understand—and we can’t understand the problem unless and until we have all the facts.”
