Governor Abbott today ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate activities at the Karolyi Ranch near Huntsville, the former training center for USA Gynmastics, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Testimony in the punishment phase of the trial of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nasser indicated that some of the sexual abuse of young girls, some as young as five, took place at the ranch.
"The public statements made by athletes who previously trained at the Karolyi Ranch are gut-wrenching," Abbott said. "Those athletes, as well as all Texans, deserve to know that no stone is left unturned to ensure that the allegations are thoroughly vetted and the perpetrators and enablers of any such misconduct are brought to justice. The people of Texas demand, and the victims deserve, nothing less."
Nasser was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for his sexual abuse of as many as 130 girls and young women over the course of twenty years, while he was the team doctor of USA Gymnastics.
An investigation is currently underway at Michigan State University, where Nasser was employed, and Abbott says it is time to conduct another investigation into whether any officials of the ranch looked the other way while the sexual abuse was underway.
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