Randall Margraves had requested to have "five minutes in a locked room with that demon", which judge Janice Cunningham said she could not allow, before he lunged himself to the table where Nassar was sat.

He was quickly tackled by three court security officers, who wrestled him to the floor.

As Mr Margraves was removed by officers, he repeatedly asked Judge Cunningham for just one minute.

Two of Mr Margraves’ daughters testified about their abuse at the hands of Nassar this morning.

Their sister is also said to have been abused under Nassar’s care.

"I want that son of a bitch," Mr Margraves shouted while he was being restrained.

"What if this happened to you guys?"

After a short break due to the disruption, today’s sentencing hearing continued as planned.  

"I recognise that Mr Margraves had three daughters that he has had to watch go through the pain and the hurt," Judge Cunningham said.

"I can't imagine what it is like for a parent."

The incident comes on a day when a special committee of directors for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has hired outside counsel Ropes & Gray LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the decades-long abuse by Nassar.

The purpose of the investigation is to determine when individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics or the USOC first became aware of any evidence of Nassar’s abuse of athletes, what that evidence was and what they did with it.

Joan McPhee and James Dowden, both partners of the firm who are former federal prosecutors, will lead the team for Ropes & Gray, which has substantial experience in investigations involving sexual abuse issues.

"Ropes & Gray will have full discretion to conduct the investigation and make findings in whatever way Ms McPhee and Mr Dowden decide is appropriate," Susanne Lyons, the independent director of the USOC who is leading the Board’s Special Committee, said.

"Ropes & Gray will prepare a written report, which will be released in its entirety to the public.

"The investigation will be professional, independent and thorough, and will take as long as necessary to get to the truth.

"The United States Olympic Committee pledges its full support to Ropes & Gray and will provide access to relevant documents and witnesses.

"USA Gymnastics has confirmed that it will do the same.

"Once the investigation is complete and the report has been published, we will work diligently to ensure that appropriate action is taken based on the facts that emerge."

Whitney Ping, an athlete representative member of the USOC Board, added: "We must ensure that a tragedy of this magnitude can never happen again."

The investigation has been established amid mounting criticism of both USA Gymnastics and the USOC for their failure to investigate claims of abuse.

USA Gymnastics President and chief executive Kerry Perry, the replacement for Steve Penny, who resigned in March amid pressure from the USOC, has already pledged to cooperate with the investigation.

A total of 156 girls and women testified to being abused by Nassar at a sentencing hearing in Michigan, which concluded last week.

As well as revealing the troubling details of the abuse they suffered, several athletes, including three-time Olympic champion Aly Raisman, criticised both the USOC and USA Gymnastics for their role in the scandal.

Earlier this week, USA Gymnastics confirmed it has received resignations from all members of its Board of Directors following the Nassar sexual abuse scandal.

The USOC had demanded that all members of the Board quit and had threatened to de-certify the organisation if it did not happen.

It comes after Nassar was jailed for 40 to 175 years last month on seven counts of criminal sexual abuse against athletes.

The number of women and girls he abused is now thought to be 265, according to Judge Cunningham.

Another 65 victims are confronting him this week. 

Three USA Gymnastics Board members - chairman Paul Parilla, vice-chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley - resigned last week.