Simone Biles and dozens of other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar are seeking more than $1 billion from the FBI for failing to stop the sports doctor when after they provided the agency with allegations.
According to the Associated Press, on Wednesday (June 8), lawyers for Olympic gold medalist and others announced the claims.FBI agents knew in 2015 that Nassar was accused of assaulting gymnasts, but they did not act, leaving him free to continue to target young women and girls for more than a year.
“It is time for the FBI to be held accountable,” Maggie Nichols, a national champion gymnast at Oklahoma in 2017-19, said, according to the AP. Federal law states that a government agency has six months to respond to tort claims like the ones filed Wednesday.
Lawsuits could follow, depending on the FBI’s response. Approximately 90 claimants include Biles, along with fellow-gold medal gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and others. Separately, 13 claims were filed by others in April.