Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley heavily criticized the FBI and the ‘neglectful agents’ case involvement with the now-convicted Ex-Olympian Doctor Larry Nassar.
This week, Grassley welcomed the Olympian survivor’s testimony to give their own heart-wrenching stories and express the trauma they had endured over the years from abuse.
When we learned that the @FBI was slow to respond to allegations of abuse by Dr. Nassar, @ChuckGrassley pushed for answers.
The survivors deserve accountability from the FBI.
All Americans deserve to hear what the FBI is doing to ensure such terrible failures aren’t repeated. pic.twitter.com/OJZ7TEhOOR
— Sen. Grassley Press (@GrassleyPress) September 14, 2021
Prominent Olympic Gymnast Simon Biles gave her testimony to the committee, where she argued how the institutions in play perpetuated the abuse she and many others endured.
“I believe without a doubt that the circumstances that led to my abuse and allowed it to continue are directly the result of the fact that the organizations created by Congress to oversee and protect me as an athlete, USA gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, failed to do their jobs,” she said.
According to Grassley, the Inspector General report attributed how a few FBI agents ‘neglected” to carry out their duty as agents throughout the investigation.
“Children suffered needlessly because multiple agents in multiple offices at the FBI neglected to share the Nassar allegations with their law enforcement counterparts at state and local agencies. Disturbingly, the abuse occurred at the hands of someone who was entrusted with their medical treatment and well-being. Brave survivors, now poised young women, are with us today, and I welcome them to the Committee,” said Grassley.
Throughout his opening statement, he argued how the FBI and the Violent crimes Against Children Unit placed publicity over the children’s protection by publishing a ‘white paper’ that he asserted had “whitewashed” truthful information about the entire investigation.
Thx to the young women/former gymnasts who gave emotional testimony at judic hearing 2day. FBI/DOJ must reopen criminal investigations on those who lied to investigators & obstructed justice in child abuse cases Heads need to roll or nothing will change
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 15, 2021
Grassley closed his statement on the floor by noting his anticipation of developing legislation to close the sex tourism statute legislative loophole that the inspector general flagged in his report while also developing a system to hold negligent agents in child exploitation cases accountable.
