McKayla Maroney files lawsuit against USA Gymnastics for 'cover-up'

Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast McKayla Maroney filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the United States Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics, alleging that officials had her sign a confidential financial settlement to keep secret the sexual abuse she endured by team doctor Larry Nassar.

In papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Maroney contends she signed a $1.25 million settlement agreement with USA Gymnastics in December 2016, per The Wall Street Journal.

Maroney claims in her lawsuit that USA Gymnastics paid her the settlement, in violation of California state law, in return for her not publicly disclosing Nassar's abuse.

"They were willing to engage in a systematic cover-up of the entire matter," Maroney's attorney John Manly said, per ESPN.

Manly said that Maroney willingly entered into the agreement but did so at a time when she was emotionally traumatized by the news that Nassar had sexually abused dozens of other women.

"I want people to understand that this kid had no choice. She couldn't function. She couldn't work," Manly said. "They (USAG) were willing to sacrifice the health and well-being of one of the most famous gymnasts in the world because they didn't want the world to know they were protecting a pedophile doctor."

Nassar was given a 60-year sentence for possession of child pornography in federal court on Dec. 7 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Judge Janet T. Neff handed the 54-year-old Nassar the maximum sentence on three child pornography charges of receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and destruction and concealment of records.

Although Nassar was not charged with sexually abusing Maroney, she provided a victim impact statement before the sentencing.

"He abused my trust, he abused my body and he left scars on my psyche that may never go away," Maroney said in that statement at the time. "He needs to be behind bars so he will never prey upon another child."

Maroney violated the terms of her confidentiality agreement in October, Manly said, when she publicly revealed, first on Twitter, that she had been abused by Nassar.