Aly Raisman has some important demands for Olympic Committee's Nassar investigation
Aly Raisman released a list of demands for the U.S. Olympic Committee's investigation into former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar, who was sentenced this week to up to 175 years in prison on sexual assault charges.
In a statement posted to Twitter on Friday, Raisman lauded the USOC's decision to launch an independent third-party investigation into both USA Gymnastics and the Olympic Committee, but insisted that the details remain open and available to the public.
The statement she posted was an open letter to Scott Blackmun, CEO of the USOC. She criticized him on Tuesday for "shamelessly taking credit" for the resignation of three USAG board members, while the USOC was "still not acknowledging its own role in this mess."
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"I feel very strongly that unless and until an independent investigation is completed," Raisman wrote in her statement, "we cannot be sure (1) we know the full extent of the problem, (2) that all the people who contributed to the problem have been removed and replaced, and (3) that the changes will effectively address the problems."
She insisted that the investigation operates with complete independence, and that the investigator has full access to data and documents without interference from the USOC and USAG. She also demanded that the findings of the investigation be released to the public, without the USOC and USAG receiving an advance copy.
"This needs to happen now," Raisman said. "This is our chance to put our best effort forward, and anything less will be a failure of the Olympic family and future generations of athletes."
In addition to the investigation, Blackmun pressured all members of the USA Gymnastics board to resign. The organization said it would comply on Friday, according to Buzzfeed. Some members of the board resigned earlier this week.
Here's Raisman's full statement:
Raisman also calls out the USAG's complicity in Nassar's abuse. She referenced Blackmun's open letter regarding the investigation, in which Blackmun denied "any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar's actions."
"This is exactly the problem we face now," Raisman shot back. "Many of the 'shocking and tragic stories' shared by the survivors have directed blame at people who are still working with or for USAG."
Raisman is one of more than 150 survivors who endured Nassar's sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment. The Olympic gold medalist has been an advocate for her fellow athletes to speak up against sexual assault and other "uncomfortable issues."
Nassar has pleaded guilty to 10 charges of sexual assault in two Michigan counties and on Wednesday he was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for seven of those charges. His next sentencing hearing for the three remaining charges will be on January 31. He was sentenced to 60 years for three child pornography charges in December.
