The Justice Department is going after USA Swimming, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The Journal reported earlier in September that the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service were pursuing an investigation into alleged sexual abuse and financial wrongdoing within several Olympic sports organizations. It turns out the organization that runs the national swim team, one of the most successful American Olympic squads, is among them.
Among the possible infractions federal prosecutors in New York are looking into is whether the organization stifled athletes' sexual abuse allegations for years, possibly in the hopes of avoiding settlements and insurance claims. Civil court filings, disciplinary records, and people familiar with the investigation allege that USA Swimming used to handle sexual abuse claims by requiring accusers to submit formal complaints to the organization. An executive would then reportedly determine whether there was enough evidence for further discipline, and the organization would hire an outside investigator to conduct interviews.
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The next step allegedly consisted of a lawyer — who was reportedly portrayed as impartial but really represented USA Swimming — reaching out to the accuser before a board hearing to determine disciplinary action. In those hearings, the lawyer would reportedly sometimes use knowledge of the accusers' cases against them. "The system is designed to stop you from wanting to report," a person briefed on the investigation said.
The system is no longer in place, however, as federal law requires all allegations of child abuse to be immediately reported to law enforcement. Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
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