WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) are pushing the Justice Department to explain its justification for opting not to charge two former FBI officials who failed to properly respond to information about abuse of young gymnasts, then sought to cover up their dereliction of duty. The delayed response enabled USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar to sexually abuse hundreds of young athletes, including several prominent Olympians. The department announced it would not file federal charges against the officials despite damning findings from the department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and additional details referenced by Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa Monaco at a Judiciary Committee hearing in September of 2021.
 
“This declination is all the more inexplicable in light of DAG Monaco’s representation to the Committee on October 5, 2021, that ‘new information’ had come to light and which was under review by the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division. Presumably, this ‘new information’ was inculpatory and not exculpatory as to the two former FBI agents,” the senators wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
 
“It is both in the public interest and in support of the Senate’s legislative work for DOJ to brief the Senate and provide an explanation as to why no criminal charges were brought against either of the former FBI agents in this case,” they continued.
 
The senators are seeking briefing from the department on its declination decision, including details about the new information referenced in the September hearing. Read their letter HERE.
 
Grassley recently expressed frustration on the department’s history of failing to hold its own employees accountable. Following revelations of Nassar’s abuse in 2017, then-chairman Grassley convened the first congressional hearing on protecting young athletes from sexual abuse, and co-authored legislation requiring amateur athletic organizations to report instances of sexual abuse. In 2018, After hearing from several gymnasts, Grassley led a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray seeking an explanation for how the bureau handled the reported abuse and subsequent investigation. He also conducted oversight into the U.S. Olympic Committee’s response following the Nassar scandal, and crafted legislation to improve safeguards for young athletes and ensure proper use of funds designed to investigate allegations of abuse. Grassley’s efforts were included in a package that later became law.
 
Grassley’s work on this issue continues and he continues to support the efforts of the survivors of these horrific crimes.
 

 

-30-