There’s no dispute that FBI agents in 2015 knew that Nassar was accused of molesting gymnasts,but lawyers for the gymnasts said the agents failed to act,leaving Nassar free to continue to target young women and girls for more than a year.
“It is time for the FBI to be held accountable,” said Maggie Nichols,a national champion gymnast at Oklahoma in 2017-19.
Under federal law,a government agency has six months to respond to the tort claim.
Lawsuits could follow,depending on the FBI’s response. The Justice Department said in May that it would not pursue criminal charges against former FBI agents who failed to quickly open an investigation.
The approximately 90 claimants include Biles,Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney,all Olympic gold medallists,according to Manly,Stewart&Finaldi,a California law firm.
“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.
Victims of Larry Nassar in December reportedly reached a $US380 million ($530 million) settlement with USA Gymnastics,the US Olympic&Paralympic Committee and their insurers after a five-year legal battle.