Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)

The FBI learned of accusation­s against Dr. Larry Nassar in 2015 but didn’t notify others, The New York Times says.

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DETROIT — At least 40 girls and women said they were molested by a Michigan sports doctor over a 14-month period while the FBI at the same time was aware that Larry Nassar had been accused of molesting gymnasts, a newspaper reported Saturday.

The FBI became aware of Nassar in July 2015 when it was contacted by USA Gymnastics, which trains athletes for the Olympics. But he wasn’t publicly exposed until The Indianapol­is Star published allegation­s by a victim in 2016, The New York Times reported.

In the meantime, Nassar continued to see young female athletes, especially gymnasts, or dancers while working at Michigan State University. USA Gymnastics, where he was a team doctor, cut ties with him in 2015.

Nassar, 54, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexual assault. He’ll get another sentence Monday in Eaton County, Michigan.

The Times said the FBI declined to answer detailed questions about how it handled assault allegation­s forwarded by Indianapol­is-based USA Gymnastics. In a brief statement, the FBI told the newspaper that the allegation­s “transcende­d jurisdicti­ons,” apparently a reference to Texas, Michigan and other places.

Asked why families and coaches weren’t alerted, W. Jay Abbott, who led the FBI office in Indianapol­is, said: “That’s where things can get tricky.”

“There is a duty to warn those who might be harmed in the future,” said Abbott. “But everyone is still trying to ascertain whether a crime has been committed.”

He said “everybody has rights here,” including Nassar.

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