Olympic Gold Medalists Take FBI To Court In $1.3 Billion Lawsuit Over Sex Assaults
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Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and dozens of other women have filed a lawsuit against the FBI, claiming that more could have been done to stop sex predator Larry Nassar.
They are seeking more than $AUD 1.3 billion ($US 1 billion, £797 million) from the FBI for failing to stop him.
Nassar, a long-time US Gymnastics team doctor, was sentenced in 2018 to up to 175 years in prison for molesting young female gymnasts.
His sentencing came after days of testimony from about 160 of his victims, which included Olympic gold medallists.
It has since been revealed that the FBI was aware of accusations levied against Nassar in 2015.
Indianapolis-based FBI agents failed to act when it was initially reported, and no action was taken until Los Angeles agents took up the investigation in 2016 which then led to Nassar's arrest.
Simone Biles, who is widely considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, said the 'entire system' enabled the abuse against her and her fellow gymnasts, according to AP.
National champion gymnast Maggie Nichols added: "It is time for the FBI to be held accountable.”
Last year the US Department of Justice handed down a report that detailed the FBI's bungled investigation into Nassar.
The report revealed that the FBI engaged in various missteps and cover-ups which allowed Nassar to continue assaulting girls and young women for more than a year after investigations began, the BBC reports.
Olympic gold medallist Kayla Maroney said in a statement that she and her fellow victims were let down by those supposed to protect them.
"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," she said as per the BBC.
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"It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process."
Maroney also told of the 'dead silence' she received when she talked to FBI agents about Nassar, as per AP.
Maroney has previously revealed she was abused by the predator doctor at one of her first training camps at age 13, according to Elle.
Two weeks ago ESPN reported that the US Justice Department has decided not to prosecute the two FBI agents accused of mishandling the investigation.
As a result, around 90 claimants - including gold medalists Biles, Maroney, and Aly Raisman - have filed a suit against the FBI over the agency's failures.
A further 13 claims were filed by others in April, as per AP.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo. John Angerson / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: US News, News, Crime, Simone Biles
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