Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) inspector general to release the results of an investigation into the FBI’s handling of an inquiry regarding former U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
Cornyn sent a letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz Tuesday asking him to release a report regarding the probe, noting that it’s been nearly two years since reports over the FBI’s delays in the handling of the case surfaced.
“All victims deserve dignity and to have the crimes committed against them properly and fairly investigated. I am deeply concerned about evidence of the FBI’s lack of urgency, even as they were uncovering clear information that a predator continued to harm the athletes in his care,” Cornyn wrote.
“Victims’ allegations must be investigated quickly, and their voices must be listened to. The release of this report is the first necessary step in determining how to move forward,” Cornyn added.
Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for the sexual assault of dozens of girls. Among the women who spoke out at his sentencing in 2018 were Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney. Olympic gymnasts Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles also accused Nassar of sexual assault.
A coach to gymnast Maggie Nichols reported to USA Gymnastics in June 2015 that several gymnasts were “uncomfortable” with Nassar’s treatments, USA Today reports. The governing body then reportedly waited almost five weeks before alerting the FBI.
A congressional investigation found that after the FBI opened a case it “dragged on and was shuffled between field offices,” the newspaper notes. The investigation reportedly resumed after USA Gymnastics inquired about the status of the case in spring 2016.
In the 17 months between when USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI and his arrest in December 2016, 40 girls are believed to have been abused.