The Justice Department launched an investigation into how the FBI handled sexual abuse allegations against former U.S. gymnastics national-team doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in jail after pleading guilty last year to federal child pornography and sexual abuse charges in Michigan.
But the DOJ is now looking at whether the Team USA doctor could have been arrested much earlier after it appears that 2015 abuse allegations were not followed up immediately.
The Justice Department launched an investigation into how the FBI handled sexual abuse allegations against former U.S. gymnastics national-team doctor Larry Nassar
It took at least nine months before the FBI officially opened the probe into the claims against the disgraced doctor.
The Senate Judiciary and Senate Commerce committees wrote a letter to the FBI's director, Christopher Wray, seeking information related to the FBI's investigation, in July.
The Justice Department has also conducted interviews with athletes and gymnastics officials, sources claim, and if the FBI are found to have failed in their duty, the new investigation could result in disciplinary action and even criminal charges.
The FBI has only said it was 'reviewing our role in the investigation'.
USA Gymnastics contacted the FBI about the allegations in July 2015 but it took months before the agency opened a formal investigation.
At least 40 girls and women said they were molested over a 14-month period while the FBI was aware of other sexual abuse allegations involving Nassar.
Nassar was ultimately charged in 2016 after hundreds of girls and women 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
Nassar was ultimately charged in 2016 after hundreds of girls and women 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.
In the last month, investigators from the inspector general's office have contacted some of the victims whose cases had been reported to the FBI, including former Olympian McKayla Maroney, according to the person familiar with the matter who wasn't authorized to discuss the situation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The FBI and federal prosecutors in Michigan, Los Angeles and Indianapolis have refused to meet with Maroney and her attorneys to explain why it took months for federal agents to open an investigation, her lawyer, John Manly, said.
He alleges the FBI 'concealed' what they knew about Nassar by failing to notify local authorities in Michigan or contacting the medical board. Maley and several other victims Manly represents are 'horrified' that dozens of other girls and women were abused after the FBI was told about the allegations, he said.
'They deserved better than what they got,' Manly said.
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics president Kerry Perry resigned earlier this week and was the latest person to face fallout in the wake of the Nassar allegations
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a spokesman for the Justice Department's inspector general declined to comment on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics president Kerry Perry resigned earlier this week and was the latest person to face fallout in the wake of the Nassar allegations.
Numerous other people have been criminally charged, fired or forced out of their jobs during the investigations into Nassar.
Perry, who had no background in the sport when she was hired as president and CEO last November, stressed her focus would be 'on creating an environment of empowerment where all have a strong voice and we are dedicated every single day to athlete safety.'
Yet too often during her nine months on the job - a brief tenure that ended Tuesday when Perry resigned amid pressure from the United States Olympic Committee - it was Perry's voice that was missing.
While the former marketing and communications executive spoke frequently in buzzwords - the use of 'empowerment' during her introductory press conference was a sign of things to come during the rare occurrence when Perry did make a public appearance - she struggled to get a handle on the scope of the damage inflicted by Nassar.
Larissa Boyce, a former gymnast sexually abused by Larry Nassar, the former physician for the U.S. womens gymnastics team attends a hearing of Nassar's trial in Ingham County Circuit Court on November 22, 2017 in Lansing, Michigan
A group of reporters surround Lindsey Lemke, a former Michigan State University gymnast and Larry Nassar survivor, as she speaks after former Michigan State gymnastics coach Kathie Klages was arraigned Thursday in the 54-A District Court in Lansing, Michigan
As athletes spoke out about being sexually abused by Nassar - a former team doctor for both the women's program at USA Gymnastics as well as Michigan State University athletics - Perry couldn't seem to effectively articulate empathy for the survivors or offer a clear way forward for one of the U.S. Olympic movement's crown jewels.
Her tenure would follow a familiar pattern: a high-profile gymnast would come forward to outline her abuse at the hands of Nassar, now serving an effective life sentence after being convicted of federal child pornography and state sexual abuse charges, and USA Gymnastics would release an empty statement, usually without Perry's name on it.
The USA gymnastics coach who backed Nassar and whose appointment was called a 'slap in the face' for victims, was also called to resign recently.
Mary Lee Tracy reversed a pledge to resign as controversy raged following an outcry over her appointment by victims. Tracy - named as USA Gymnastics' elite development coordinator - said in a statement on her Facebook page last month she was quitting following a demand to leave by the organization's chief executive, Kerry Perry.
'In an attempt to move in our journey to more 'transparency' and openness, I need to explain why I have to resign,' Tracy wrote.
'Kerry (Perry) gave me two options, to resign or be removed...'
But roughly an hour after her statement, Tracy said she had withdrawn her resignation.
'I have notified USA gymnastics that I am not resigning I was pressured to make a decision and I am seeking counsel! I appreciate all of the support from the community!' Tracy wrote.
MICHIGAN STATE: NCAA FINDS NO VIOLATIONS IN NASSAR PROBE
By The Associated Press
The NCAA has cleared Michigan State University of any rules violations in the Larry Nassar sexual-assault scandal, the school announced Thursday.
Athletic director Bill Beekman said the university 'cooperated fully with the inquiry' and welcomes the NCAA's conclusion. The school said it got a letter this week from the NCAA's vice president for enforcement, Jonathan Duncan.
Nassar, 55, pleaded guilty to assaulting girls and women while working as a campus sports doctor for Michigan State athletes and gymnasts in the region. Victims included U.S. Olympians who trained at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. He has been sentenced to decades in prison in three separate cases involving assault and child pornography.
Larry Nassar is currently serving 175 for sexually abusing over 100 gymnasts in his care
Duncan's letter said, 'It does not appear there is a need for further inquiry,' according to Michigan State.
'While we agree with the NCAA that we did not commit a violation, that does not diminish our commitment to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student athletes. That pledge permeates everything we do as part of a larger university commitment to making MSU a safer campus,' Beekman said in a statement.
Michigan State has denied that anyone covered up Nassar's crimes. But former athletes say various campus staff downplayed or disregarded their complaints about him.
The university in May reached a $500 million settlement with hundreds of women and girls who said they were assaulted by Nassar.
Former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages, a longtime Nassar ally, appeared in court Thursday on charges of lying to investigators. Klages is accused of denying that gymnasts had ever complained of assaults by Nassar. Authorities say two teens complained to her back in 1997.
Defense attorney Mary Chartier said Klages will fight the charges.
Separately, the university said the NCAA found no violations in how the football and basketball teams responded to assault allegations against players.
Former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages (in purple), a longtime Nassar ally, appeared in court Thursday on charges of lying to investigators. Klages is accused of denying that gymnasts had ever complained of assaults by Nassar. Authorities say two teens complained to her back in 1997
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/06/doj-investigating-the-fbis-handling-of-nassar-probe/
Main photo article The Justice Department launched an investigation into how the FBI handled sexual abuse allegations against former U.S. gymnastics national-team doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in jail after pleading guilty last year to federal child pornography and sexual abuse charges in...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/05/20/4F89AF0E00000578-6136025-image-a-1_1536175550911.jpg
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