Daisy Phillipson
Survivors who were abused by Larry Nassar are seeking up to $1 billion in damages from the FBI for failing to stop the former US national gymnastics team doctor from carrying out his crimes.
Among the 90 athletes seeking compensation is Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who testified about the impact the abuse continues to have on her at a hearing last year while also criticising the failure of authorities to protect Nassar's victims.
Nassar, 58, is currently serving a life sentence in prison after receiving at least 300 years for the sexual abuse of hundreds of underage victims.
It's long been reported that the FBI are accused of botched a 2015 investigation into Nassar, leaving him free to continue abusing girls for over a year before he was arrested in 2016.
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Lawyers representing the athletes confirmed on Wednesday, June 8, that they plan to file a series of claims against the FBI that could collectively exceed $1 billion.
These fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which provides a legal means for compensating individuals who have suffered personal injury or damage caused by the negligence of federal government agents.
Alongside Biles, a number of celebrated gymnasts including Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols make up the 90 women seeking compensation from the FBI.
Nichols previously said in a statement (via ABC News): "The FBI knew that Larry Nassar was a danger to children when his abuse of me was first reported in September of 2015.
"For 421 days they worked with USA Gymnastics and USOPC to hide this information from the public and allowed Nassar to continue molesting young women and girls. It is time for the FBI to be held accountable."
Last month, the Justice Department announced it had decided not to prosecute two former FBI agents accused of making false statements about the mishandled investigation.
"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," Maroney said in a statement.
"I had some hope that they would keep their word and hold the FBI accountable after we poured out our hearts to the US Senate Judiciary Committee and begged for justice. It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 802 9999 between 12pm–2.30pm and 7pm– 9.30pm every day. Alternatively, you can contact Victim Support free on 08 08 16 89 111 available 24/7, every day of the year, including Christmas