One of the country’s most decorated Olympians is joining the legal fight against Dr. Larry Nassar.
In a lawsuit filed today, former Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney alleges that Michigan State University and the U.S. Olympic Committee “failed to properly investigate, discipline or remove…Nassar” who allegedly molested Maroney and more than 140 other women.
Also in her suit, Maroney says USA Gymnastics tried to buy her silence over the Nassar scandal with a non-disclosure agreement, agreeing to pay her an undisclosed sum in exchange for her to keep silent about her story of alleged abuse.
In a statement, Maroney said Nassar’s abuse “…started when I was 13-years-old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn’t end until I let the sport. It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was ‘treated.’ “
It was also revealed yesterday that, while he was under criminal investigation by MSU police, Nassar continued to treat patients at the school. The investigation into the doctor lasted some 16 months and ultimately led to no charges.
“They should have never have allowed it,” said Mick Grewal, an attorney who represents women and girls suing Nassar.
“There was a criminal investigation ongoing of sexual assault. Why would they continue to allow a doctor to treat someone during that investigation?” Grewal said.
Maroney’s attorney John Manly is not saying how much his client was pain in exchange for her silence, but the Wall Street Journal is reporting that sum was $1.25 million.
USA Gymnastics is preparing a statement in response to the lawsuit, but it was not complete at the time of publishing.
