120 Larry Nassar victims call on Justice Department to release inspector general’s report

More than 120 victims of former U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar called on the Justice Department Wednesday to release an inspector general’s report regarding the FBI’s handling of an investigation into reports of Nassar’s sexually abuse. 

The athletes sent a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz Wednesday, the five year anniversary of the day allegations against Nassar were first reported to the FBI. 

The DOJ inspector general reportedly launched an investigation into the FBI’s handling of the case in September 2018, yet two years later the findings of the report have yet to be released. 

“Why is the Justice Department sitting on this report? We do not want it withheld and then have authorities claim they cannot indict and prosecute people involved in criminal conduct because the statute of limitations has expired,” the athletes wrote, according to a copy of the letter published by NBC News. 

“It is important for our healing for all the facts to come out and for wrongdoers to be held accountable. It is also important to maintain public confidence in our federal law enforcement agencies by exposing the truth and initiate reforms so that this never happens again,” they added. 

Earlier this month, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) sent a similar letter to the DOJ calling for the findings of the probe to be released. The senator said he has yet to receive a response, according to NBC News. 

Nassar is serving up to 175 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 10 minors in January 2018. 

Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, told NBC News the watchdog is “investigating the allegations concerning the FBI’s handling of the Nassar investigation, and the victims and the public should rest assured our findings will be made public at the end of our investigation.” 

People familiar with the inspector general’s investigation were told by the office’s lead investigator that the report on the FBI’s inquiry was referred to the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section in 2018, NBC News reports. 

A source told the outlet that the lead investigator said the matter was not a “criminal investigation.” 

Logan declined to comment to NBC on specific questions about a criminal referral to the Public Integrity Section. 

In the 17 months between when USA gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI and his arrest in December 2016, he is believed to have abused 40 girls.