After the crimes of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar came to light, dozens of survivors filed lawsuits against the Federal Bureau of Investigation, arguing that the bureau’s failures allowed the abuse to continue for far longer than it should have. The lawsuits centered on the FBI’s handling of the initial complaints brought forward by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and other athletes in 2015. According to later findings by the Department of Justice Inspector General, agents received credible allegations against Nassar but failed to act quickly, did not properly document interviews, and allowed months to pass without notifying state authorities who could have intervened. During that delay, Nassar continued abusing young gymnasts. Survivors argued that the FBI’s negligence and failure to follow basic investigative procedures enabled additional assaults that could have been prevented. The cases ultimately resulted in a substantial settlement from the federal government, acknowledging the role that investigative failures played in prolonging the abuse.

That legal outcome has been viewed by many observers as a potential roadmap for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein seeking accountability beyond the trafficker himself. Epstein’s crimes also unfolded over many years despite repeated warnings to authorities, and critics have long argued that federal investigators and prosecutors missed opportunities to intervene earlier. The Nassar litigation demonstrated that victims can pursue claims against the government when investigative failures allow abuse to continue after authorities were put on notice. For Epstein survivors, that framework raises the possibility of similar legal arguments—particularly surrounding law enforcement’s handling of earlier complaints, the controversial non-prosecution agreement in Florida, and other moments when authorities were aware of allegations but failed to stop the exploitation. While the circumstances differ, the Nassar cases showed that institutional failures by investigators can carry legal consequences, creating a model that Epstein survivors and their attorneys may look to as they pursue broader accountability.



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