INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
IndyStar
May 24, 2018
By Tim Evans and Marisa Kwiatkowski
USA Gymnastics officials agreed to provide what Larry Nassar’s attorney called “false excuses” for his absence from major gymnastics events in 2015, rather than disclose to parents and gymnasts that Nassar was under investigation for child sexual abuse.
Emails obtained by The Indianapolis Star reveal that on two separate occasions, Nassar and a USA Gymnastics attorney negotiated cover stories — first that Nassar was sick and later that he was focusing on his private practice — to explain why the longtime team physician was not attending two major events in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics.
In one of the emails, Indianapolis attorney Scott D. Himsel told Nassar his medical techniques were under investigation, and “it is in everyone’s best interest” that Nassar not attend a gymnastics event that weekend.
Himsel said USA Gymnastics would tell people Nassar was not attending for “personal reasons.”
Nassar replied: “Can we just say that i am sick? That would make more sense to everyone. Would that be ok?”
Himsel agreed to have USA Gymnastics use that story.
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