FBI's Botched Nassar Investigation Could Get Federal Probe

WASHINGTON, DC — Sen. Chuck Grassley wants a federal prosecutor to look into the FBI's botched investigation into Larry Nassar following the testimony of four elite gymnasts who were sexually abused by the former gymnastics doctor.

Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement on Friday asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to assign a federal prosecutor or special counsel to examine the FBI’s mishandling of the case.

“Nassar abused hundreds of young athletes while FBI sat on its thumb," the statement read. "These brave gymnasts and all Nassar survivors deserve accountability, especially from the Justice Department."

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from elite gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols.

In her testimony, Biles accused Team USA Gymnastics officials of turning a "blind eye" to repeated reports about Nassar's sexual abuse of her and hundreds of other women.

"If you allow a predator to harm children, the consequences will be swift and severe," Biles said. "Enough is enough."

Nassar pleaded guilty in 2017 to federal child pornography offenses and sexual abuse charges in Michigan and is now serving decades in prison.

Hundreds of girls and women have said he sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment when he worked for Michigan State and Indiana-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

"I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse," Biles said through tears. In addition to failures of the FBI, she said USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee "knew that I was abused by their official team doctor long before I was ever made aware of their knowledge."

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