money OnPolitics: FBI director apologizes to superstar gymnasts
It's hard to believe that it's already been one month since the Taliban retook Afghanistan. Yet life for women remaining in the country has already rapidly changed.
After making early promises about a more inclusive government, the Taliban have returned in some ways to the brutal regime that ruled the country before the American invasion in 2001.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, four of the best U.S. gymnasts gave harrowing testimony Wednesday about the FBI's failure to stop sexual abuse.
It's Amy and Mabinty, with the news you need to know.
Elite gymnasts want justice after FBI fails to stop Nassar sex abuse
Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles through tears blamed the FBI, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee at a Senate panel Wednesday for allowing disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar to abuse dozens of women and children.
“We suffered and continue to suffer, because no one at the FBI, USAG or the USOPC did what was necessary to protect us," Biles said. "We have been failed."
Fellow elite gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the FBI's failures to investigate 2015 sexual abuse allegations against Nassar.
The backstory: The Department of Justice inspector general released a stinging 119-page report in July that found Indianapolis FBI officials made false statements and failed to respond to tips for months, leading to more than 100 other gymnasts being sexually abused and exhibited "extremely poor judgment" in the handling of the allegations against Nassar.
How did the FBI respond? FBI Director Chris Wray apologized to the four athletes for the agency's failures and called the inactions of its employees "totally unacceptable.”
"I'm deeply and profoundly sorry to each and every one of you. I’m sorry for what you and your families have been through. I'm sorry that so many different people let you down over and over again," Wray said.
Real quick: Stories you'll want to read
Claims of treason: Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is facing outrage from lawmakers after a report that he assured China that the United States would not launch a nuclear strike in the last days of the Trump administration.
Saying yes to this dress? Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended Monday's Met Gala wearing a Brother Vellies' white dress with "Tax the Rich" written in red on the backside. But who qualifies as rich?
DOJ vs. Texas: The Justice Department is seeking an emergency court order to block the enforcement of a new Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks.
Where was Trump on Jan. 6? Requests sent to telecom and social media companies, and to federal agencies, from a House committee reveal pieces of the puzzle that lawmakers hope to assemble for a minute-by-minute picture of what happened during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for OnPolitics newsletter here.
Donald Trump says no thanks to 'Presidents Club'
On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, President Joe Biden and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton paid tribute at the sites of the nation's deadliest terrorist attacks.
Missing from the gathering Saturday was former president Donald Trump.
A few days later, Obama, Bush, and Clinton, and their wives, announced they are "honorary co-chairs" of Welcome.US, an organization designed to assist refugees from Afghanistan who are re-settling in the United States.
Absent again: Trump.
It was yet another sign that the fraternal "Presidents Club" is not one that Trump wants to join – not that the other ex-presidents appear to be clamoring for him to join anyway.
Going against the status quo: From vaccine promotion to disaster relief, the businessman who often described himself as a "different kind of president" has shunned his engagement with others who have worked in the Oval Office, and the feeling seems to be mutual.
G’mar chatima tovah to all those observing Yom Kippur! - Amy and Mabinty
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI director apologizes to elite gymnasts over Larry Nassar case
