Senators refer former Olympic chief to DOJ for allegedly lying about Nassar

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Two top senators on Friday accused the U.S. Olympic Committee’s former CEO of lying to Congress about his handling of abuse allegations against USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar, and said they have referred the matter to the Justice Department.

Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D. Conn.), who are the lead members of a subcommittee with jurisdiction over the health and safety of U.S. Olympic and NCAA athletes, said Scott Blackmun made “materially false statements contained in his written testimony to the Subcommittee during the course of the Subcommittee’s investigation.”

“The Subcommittee takes its oversight role seriously, and it appears that Mr. Blackmun has made false claims and misled our Subcommittee — harming the investigation and ability to develop policy,” the senators said in a statement. “Just as importantly, survivors of abuse have had to wait longer for the truth and longer for systemic changes to help prevent others from similar injury.”

Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics team physician accused of sexually abusing hundreds of athletes, was sentenced in three separate courts to at least 100 years in prison. Michigan State University also announced a $500 million settlement with Nassar’s victims.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/14/senators-scott-blackmun-olympic-lied-congress-1064854

[nitpicker]

1. Clarification from Moran's website

https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=23E97FA9-ABA7-479E-B525-1FEE9E23B4B5

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) – chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security with jurisdiction over the health and safety of US Olympic and NCAA athletes – have referred former U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun for investigation of potential violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 1505.

The Subcommittee referred Blackmun to Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray, citing Blackmun’s “materially false statements contained in his written testimony to the Subcommittee during the course of the Subcommittee’s investigation.”
(snip)