‘I’m anxious, I’m triggered, I’m drained’: Aly Raisman describes experience telling Congress about FBI’s handling of Larry Nassar case

Aly Raisman said Thursday she’s feeling many different emotions after giving testimony during a congressional hearing on the FBI’s handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. 

The Olympian and Needham native, along with three of her former teammates, Simone Biles, McKayla Mulroney, and Maggie Nichols, told members of Congress on Wednesday about the abuse they suffered at the hands of the USA Gymnastics team doctor and described how they believe the FBI investigators failed them and the other young women and girls Nassar would go on to abuse with the way the case was handled. 

“I’m anxious, I’m triggered, I’m drained,” Raisman said Thursday on the “Today” show of the Senate Judiciary Hearing. “It’s heartbreaking even just to listen back to my teammates and my very close friends’ testimonies. I’m so proud of them. It’s hard. It’s hard to do that. It’s hard to go up there and share so much.”

Raisman said she’s feeling a little hopeful by how supportive senators appeared to be during the hearing, during which she pressed the lawmakers for an independent investigation into the case — a call she has been making publicly for years.

“I’m really hoping that they’re going to be able to help us,” she said of the senators. “But very disappointing that nobody from the Department of Justice came. It just to me sends a message that they didn’t think it was worth their time, which is just really concerning.”

Following the hearing, members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation reacted on social media, praising Raisman and her teammates for their courage and calling for accountability and justice. 

“It is unconscionable for those tasked w/ keeping our young people safe to not only fail them, but dismiss their trauma & allow abuse to continue,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley wrote. “But let me make it plain, that is what happened here. I stand w/ the survivors. I see you. You deserve justice. You deserve healing.”

Nassar is currently serving decades in prison following a conviction and 2018 sentencing in Michigan on federal child pornography offenses and sexual abuse charges. Hundreds of girls and women came forward to say he sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment during his time working for Michigan State and USA Gymnastics. 

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

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