Nassar Survivors Seek $1B After Agency Mishandled Reports: Lawyers

MICHIGAN — Dozens of Olympic gold medalists who were sexually abused by Larry Nassar are seeking $1 billion from the FBI after they said the bureau mishandled credible complaints of sexual assaults against the former Michigan State University gymnastics team doctor in 2015, lawyers said Wednesday.

Lawyers said the bureau became aware of the allegations against Nassar in July 2015, when Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics told local FBI agents that three gymnasts said they were assaulted by Nassar.

But the FBI did not open a formal investigation or inform federal or state authorities in Michigan, according to the Justice Department's inspector general, an internal watchdog.

"If the FBI had simply done its job, Nassar would have been stopped before he ever had the chance to abuse hundreds of girls, including me," former University of Michigan gymnast Samantha Roy said.

In sworn testimony to Congress last year, FBI Director Christopher Wray admitted that officials failed to properly investigate the criminal complaints.

"I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed. And that’s inexcusable," Wray told victims at a Senate hearing.

After agents failed to formally investigate Nassar, he went on to sexually assault approximately 90 young women and children between July 28, 2015, and Sept. 12, 2016, authorities said.

Some of the victims included Olympic medalists and Team USA gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols, as well as Roy, who is also part of the group.

It wasn't until the fall of 2016 when Michigan State Police arrested Nassar.

The U.S. Justice Department said in May it won't pursue charges against federal officials who failed to formally investigate the sexual abuse claims into Nassar.

Michigan State University agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted by Nassar after the university admitted it missed chances over the years to stop Nassar. They eventually settled on $380 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report