Senator Gary Peters Calls for a Full-Scale Investigation Over the Gymnastics Abuse Scandal
After a jaw‑dropping court session in Lansing, Michigan, Michigan Democrat Gary Peters is demanding that Congress dig deep into the institutional failings that allowed Larry Nassar to hurt countless athletes.
What the Senator Said
Peters urged hearings to uncover why so many athletes fell victim to “major sexual abuse scandals,” spotlighting the “neglectful indifference” from the very people sworn to protect them.
Key Points of Peters’ Call
- Identify the individuals within Michigan State University (MSU) and USA Gymnastics who enabled or ignored Nassar’s crimes.
- Examine why the United States Olympic Committee and other bodies failed to act when warnings were raised.
- Push for an evaluation of the university’s Board of Regents, citing a lawsuit demanding the governor investigate the board’s oversight.
Background: The Courtroom Drama
A judge in Michigan sentenced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar to up to 175 years in prison after a week of harrowing testimony. The victims—women and girls from all walks of life—hammered home that Nassar’s “medical” visits turned into outright sexual assaults.
Where It All Happened
- Michigan State University’s sports‑medicine clinic.
- Various training facilities sanctioned by USA Gymnastics.
As the courtroom doors closed, the weight of the evidence felt heavier than a gymnast’s vault apparatus. “Now the criminal proceedings are finished,” Peters said, “but we still need to hold the institutions accountable.”
Aftermath: Shake‑Ups Across the Sport
- MSU president Lou Anna Simon stepped down just after the sentencing.
- The NCAA has launched its own investigation.
- Three top officials of USA Gymnastics board resigned.
- USA Gymnastics severed ties with the elite Karolyi Ranch training camp.
The US Olympic Committee isn’t sitting idle either; an independent probe has been ordered to scrutinize the committee’s actions—and the entire USAG structure—once again.
Why It Matters
Despite repeated warnings, victims were either dismissed or silenced, allowing the abuser to continue for two decades. The 2014 internal investigation at MSU didn’t even label Nassar’s actions as “serious violations,” raising vital questions about institutional safeguards.
In short, Senator Peters is pushing for transparency and accountability at every rung of the gymnastics hierarchy—because if someone says, “I covered up the abuse,” the human need for justice shouldn’t get a pass. The call is clear: identify the players who made it possible, and ensure the next generation of athletes can safely lift and spin their way through life.
