BREAKING: USA Gymnastics Sex Abuse Files Released By Judge
BREAKING: USA Gymnastics Sex Abuse Files Released By Judge
Today, a Georgia judge unsealed more than 5,600 pages of court depositions and sexual abuse complaint files that USA Gymnastics kept on 54 of its member coaches over the past 10 years.
Today, a Georgia judge unsealed more than 5,600 pages of court depositions and sexual abuse complaint files that USA Gymnastics kept on 54 of its member coaches over the past 10 years.
According to the IndyStar, which filed the request for the files, 17 coaches' names were redacted, including two who appear to have been convicted, but not banned from the sport. Their findings further stated some of the redacted names belong to coaches who have been accused, but not criminally convicted, as well as the names of victims, gyms and others who reported coaches.
In many of the files, the IndyStar reported entire pages were redacted, including 175 consecutive pages. According to their research, some coaches accused of sexual abuse weren't banned from USA Gym until years after being convicted of child abuse. In one of these cases, the IndyStar cited a letter to former USA Gym president Robert Colarossi by a USA Gymnastics regional chairman who wrote in support of permitting a sex offender to keep his membership.
The files, which USA Gymnastics fought to keep sealed in a nine-month legal battle, contain some sexual misconduct records on coaches that span more than 300 pages long across more than a decade, according to the IndyStar.
In a statement, USA Gym noted today that it has banned 37 of the 54 coaches in the files, and 48 of them involved law enforcement--but it is unclear at what stage they became involved in each case.
"As a membership organization, USA Gymnastics has a grievance procedure to address misconduct complaints or concerns," the statement says. "The administrative files regarding misconduct are kept confidential to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, many files contain publicly available information, including media reports and law enforcement records, and USA Gymnastics publishes a list of individuals permanently banned from membership.
"It is important to note that the grievance process is separate from the duty to report suspected abuse to law enforcement or child protection services. If USA Gymnastics suspects sexual abuse, the organization encourages those affected to contact law enforcement or child protective services, assists in making such contact, and/or contacts law enforcement or child protective services itself. Reporting to law enforcement does not require a formal complaint."
USA Gym's reporting practices are at the heart of the scandal, which involves 368 gymnasts who have come forward with reports of abuse over the past 20 years. Investigations done by the IndyStar and statements made by USA Gym revealed that not all sexual abuse complaints were reported to authorities immediately after they were received.
After top officials received reports implicating former USA Gym physician Dr. Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, the organization first hired an independent investigator to interview the involved gymnasts in order to determine whether it "would be appropriate to notify law enforcement." As a result, five weeks went by before USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI.
Dianne Fienstein, U.S. Senator for California, has made public her intention of introducing a federal law that makes it mandatory for USA Gymnastics and other sports governing bodies to immediately report sexual abuse to law enforcement.
This story is still developing as the IndyStar's investigative team continues to inspect all 5,600 pages from the released files.
RELATED: Editorial: Why Does Abuse Continue To Plague USA Gymnastics?
According to the IndyStar, which filed the request for the files, 17 coaches' names were redacted, including two who appear to have been convicted, but not banned from the sport. Their findings further stated some of the redacted names belong to coaches who have been accused, but not criminally convicted, as well as the names of victims, gyms and others who reported coaches.
In many of the files, the IndyStar reported entire pages were redacted, including 175 consecutive pages. According to their research, some coaches accused of sexual abuse weren't banned from USA Gym until years after being convicted of child abuse. In one of these cases, the IndyStar cited a letter to former USA Gym president Robert Colarossi by a USA Gymnastics regional chairman who wrote in support of permitting a sex offender to keep his membership.
The files, which USA Gymnastics fought to keep sealed in a nine-month legal battle, contain some sexual misconduct records on coaches that span more than 300 pages long across more than a decade, according to the IndyStar.
In a statement, USA Gym noted today that it has banned 37 of the 54 coaches in the files, and 48 of them involved law enforcement--but it is unclear at what stage they became involved in each case.
"As a membership organization, USA Gymnastics has a grievance procedure to address misconduct complaints or concerns," the statement says. "The administrative files regarding misconduct are kept confidential to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, many files contain publicly available information, including media reports and law enforcement records, and USA Gymnastics publishes a list of individuals permanently banned from membership.
"It is important to note that the grievance process is separate from the duty to report suspected abuse to law enforcement or child protection services. If USA Gymnastics suspects sexual abuse, the organization encourages those affected to contact law enforcement or child protective services, assists in making such contact, and/or contacts law enforcement or child protective services itself. Reporting to law enforcement does not require a formal complaint."
USA Gym's reporting practices are at the heart of the scandal, which involves 368 gymnasts who have come forward with reports of abuse over the past 20 years. Investigations done by the IndyStar and statements made by USA Gym revealed that not all sexual abuse complaints were reported to authorities immediately after they were received.
After top officials received reports implicating former USA Gym physician Dr. Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, the organization first hired an independent investigator to interview the involved gymnasts in order to determine whether it "would be appropriate to notify law enforcement." As a result, five weeks went by before USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI.
Dianne Fienstein, U.S. Senator for California, has made public her intention of introducing a federal law that makes it mandatory for USA Gymnastics and other sports governing bodies to immediately report sexual abuse to law enforcement.
This story is still developing as the IndyStar's investigative team continues to inspect all 5,600 pages from the released files.
RELATED: Editorial: Why Does Abuse Continue To Plague USA Gymnastics?