Aly Raisman said Thursday that the FBI agent she spoke to about dishonored former U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar downplayed the abuse he received when he spoke about it.
Raisman appeared on NBC’s “Today” and was asked to delve into what the agent in question did to make him feel that his trauma “wasn’t that bad.” She said the agent, when it was “convenient” for her, flew to Boston to “pressure” her to accept Nassar’s plea deal.
He also said Steve Penny, the former president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, was trying to prevent the allegations from leaking out of the organization.
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“From the beginning, when I reported my abuse to Steve Penny … from the beginning, Steve Penny told my mom and me that the most important thing was to keep things confidential. The most important thing was to give McKayla Maroney a place of breath He tried to make sure we didn’t talk about it.It seemed like his biggest concern was that this would never come out.It was never “How do you feel, what can we do to help you?” “Raisman said.
He said when he asked Penny if Nassar would be at a certain meeting, Penny was more concerned about her signing the tourism deal.
From the left, U.S. gymnasts McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman listen to Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Hold a press conference after the athletes testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the management of the FBI’s Larry Nassar investigation. at Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, September 15, 2021. (Photo AP / J. Scott Applewhite)
(Photo by AP / J. Scott Applewhite)
“There was never any concern about how we were going,” Raisman said.
She said she felt pressure to be interviewed at the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters, although she felt uncomfortable doing so. He said that when he did the interview he felt no support.
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“I didn’t feel supported when I was going into graphic details about my abuse, which of course. drop the case, ”Raisman said. “And when it was convenient for the FBI agent, he flew to Boston even though I asked for my original interview to be there with my mother. When it was convenient for him and he wanted to convince me why I accepted Nassar’s plea agreement or he pressured me. To take Nassar’s plea deal, it was appropriate for him. It was worth his time to fly to Boston. It just wasn’t a good experience. “
Raisman thanked senators for their support Wednesday when she and her other Olympic teammates, including McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles, spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee over the FBI’s failed investigation into Nassar’s abuses.
He said it was disappointing that the Justice Department was not there and called for an independent investigation into why the FBI fired an agent who allegedly did not pursue advice on Nassar’s abuse. Inspector General Michael Horowitz confirmed that there were two FBI agents whose conduct was derived for a criminal investigation, but so far there have been no trials.
“The senators seemed to be very courageous and supportive of us, which we are very grateful for, and my question to them if they can help us and if they can get the investigations going for us because we have been asking for it for years and until we have that … how did this person retire? What did they do, according to the FBI, that it wasn’t okay to let them go? And why did they go out the back door like so many have? “Raisman wondered. .
FBI Director Christopher Wray denied knowledge of why no criminal cases were filed and said it was “a decision by the Justice Department.”
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Going forward, Wray said, he and his leadership team are determined to make sure that with the steps they have taken in response to this case, FBI members will “learn from it so it doesn’t happen” again.