USA Gymnastics agreed to use false excuses in 2015 to account for the absence of sports doctor Larry Nassar, who had been accused of sexually abusing female athletes, according to emails obtained by a newspaper.
Nassar suggested that USA Gymnastics tell people that he couldn’t attend two major events that summer because he was sick or needed to focus on his work at Michigan State University, the Indianapolis Star reported Thursday.
By refusing to reveal the allegations against Nassar, and because the FBI investigation into the doctor took several months, he is estimated to have assaulted at least 14 more victims.
USA Gymnastics agreed to use false excuses in 2015 to account for the absence of sports doctor Larry Nassar (pictured in November), since revealed to be a serial sexual abuser
Steve Penny (center) stepped down as president of USA Gymnastics in disgrace after the scandal
USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians, is accused of covering up assault allegations against Nassar. The group didn’t tell Michigan State or elite gymnastics clubs about complaints against him in 2015.
Nassar publicly stated in September 2015 that he was retiring from the Indianapolis-based group, but he continued to see young women and girls for many months at his Michigan State office and a gym near Lansing, Michigan.
USA Gymnastics and Himsel declined to comment on the Star story. The group has said it didn’t disclose the Nassar investigation to others based on guidance from the FBI. The FBI also declined to comment for the story.
‘I don’t think that they cared at all,’ Olympian and Nassar victim Aly Raisman said. ‘I think at first it was to get… Nassar away from the Olympians, but when it was about a 10-year-old or a 15-year-old or 20-year-old in Michigan they didn’t care.’
Raisman said she felt like USAG officials tried to keep her from speaking publicly about her abuser.
Fourty-one days passed before USAG had their meeting with the FBI to report the alleged abuse.
During this time, she says the investigator USAG hired to look into the claims told Raisman that there ‘are risks in sharing information at this point’.
In mid-July of 2015, Raisman said she got a text from USAG President Steve Penny (who later stepped down in disgrace over the scandal) saying it was important to keep ‘quiet and confidential and very few people in the loop’.
USAG first learned about the allegations in June 2015, when a coach overheard Aly Raisman (left, giving a victim impact speech at Nassar’s trial) and Maggie Nichols (right) talking about the doctor
USA Gymnastics first heard about the allegations against Nassar on June 17, 2015, when a coach overheard gymnasts Aly Raisman, a two-time Olympian, and Maggie Nichols, talking about him.
That coach immediately told USA Gymnastics officials, whose first step was to hire two attorneys, one of whom had an expertise in defending ‘claims of sexual misconduct’.
Nassar first learned that USA Gymnastics was looking into his ‘therapy techniques’ in an email from the organization’s hired counsel Scott Himsel on July 22, 2015, saying higher ups has decided ‘it is in everyone’s best interest’ that he not attend the Secret U.S. Classic in Illinois that weekend.
Himsel appeared to want to keep the accusations against Nassar quiet for the time being, while USA Gymnastics looked into the matter. Human resources experts told the newspaper that employers can open themselves up for liability if they go public with an allegation that turns out to be false.
Former gymnast Kaylee Lorincz was one of the 14 women who were abused by Nassar after USAG learned about the allegations
‘I am sure you can appreciate as a medical professional that in today’s atmosphere, we need to address these concerns thoroughly and discreetly,’ Himsel wrote to Nassar.
At first, Himsel said that USA Gymnastics COO Ron Galimore would tell Nassar’s team that he couldn’t attend the event because of ‘personal reasons’.
But Nassar responded and asked that they cover for him, saying he was unwell instead.
‘Can we just say that i am sick?’ Nassar replied. ‘That would make more sense to everyone. Would that be ok?’
Himsel responded: ‘We’ll let Ron know to advise people that you weren’t feeling well and decided to stay home.’
They continued to keep the allegations hush hush when Nassar followed up on July 28, 2015, when he said he wanted to resolve the situation ‘as quickly as possible’. Unbeknownst to him, USA Gymnastics was meeting with the FBI that day to disclose the allegations.
The following day, Nassar wrote a second email, saying he wanted to ‘move forward with this since I will need to be at the USA P&G Championships in Indianapolis’.
‘Because the review is on-going, USA Gymnastics has determined it is in everyone’s best interest that you not attend USA Gymnastics events or communicate with USA Gymnastics athletes and personnel until further notice,’ Himsel replied. ‘In addition, we suggest that prior to Championships that Ron Galimore will once again advise the medical staff (the Athlete Care Coordinator) that you cannot attend for personal reasons, unless you prefer a different approach that we are prepared to discuss. Please advise whether Ron may do so.’
‘If I am not going to be at Championships, then it is due to financial reasons with my clinical practice, which is an accurate statement,’ Nassar wrote back.
‘Understood,’ Himsel said. ‘Ron will proceed accordingly. USAG will be back in touch when it reaches the appropriate point in its review.’
While Nassar was banned from attending USA Gymnastics events, he continued to run his private practice, work at the University of Michigan and a local gymnastics gym.
An estimated 14 other women were abused by Nassar between the time USA Gymnastics was informed about the allegations and his arrested in December 2016, including former gymnast Kaylee Lorincz.
Because USAG released no statement on the allegations against Nassar, and because the FBI investigation took so long, she says she went to Nassar thinking he was in good standing.
She visited him twice after USAG learned of the claims in June 2015, and says both times she was abused.
‘It could have saved that many more if they could have just stopped him in 2015,’ she said. ‘It makes me angry and upset because it could have prevented so much.’
Nassar is serving decades in prison for sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
Michigan State has agreed to pay $425 million to 332 victims and set aside $75 million for additional claimants. There’s been no broad settlement involving USA Gymnastics.