The US Justice Department has announced a historic settlement with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling sexual assault complaints against former sports physician Larry Nassar. The FBI intends to compensate victims to the tune of $138.7 million for its inability to act immediately on their claims.
Larry Nassar, a disgraced sports doctor, preyed on female athletes under the pretense of medical treatment. He formerly worked at Michigan State University and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics, located in Indianapolis.
Nassar’s offenses stretch across decades. He is presently serving a lengthy jail sentence for sexually abusing multiple women, including Olympic gymnasts. Nassar continued victimizing athletes during the time gap between 2015 and 2016 before being arrested.
During this time, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles were aware of allegations against Nassar. They, however, did not take meaningful action. An internal review found that, despite being aware of the claims, the FBI did not interfere.
In 2016, investigators announced the discovery of pictures of child abuse and brought federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office handled the assault claims that shocked the sports world, resulting in an extraordinary days-long penalty trial with compelling testimony regarding his misdeeds.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer stated that Nassar had abused the trust of individuals in his care for decades. Adding that the allegations should have been taken seriously from the beginning.
“While these settlements will not undo the harm Nassar caused, we hope that they will provide the victims of his crimes with the critical support they require to continue healing,” Mizer said of the deal to resolve 139 claims.
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The survivors are Olympic medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. These athletes bravely revealed their tales, shining a light on Nassar’s abuse and the systemic flaws that permitted it.
Former gymnast Rachael Denhollander was the first person to reveal Nassar’s abuse publicly. She expressed thanks for the settlement but emphasized the importance of continuing vigilance to prevent such situations in the future.
In 2021, FBI Director Christopher Wray officially apologized to the survivors during a Senate hearing. He admitted that the FBI wasted a critical opportunity to stop Nassar in 2015. The settlement is exceptional as it combines cash compensation with a public acknowledgment of the FBI’s failure.
Michigan State University, also accused of failing to stop Nassar, agreed to pay $500 million to over 300 women and girls. USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee also reached a $380 million settlement.
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Mick Grewal, an attorney who represented 44 people in lawsuits against the government, believes the $1 billion in total settlements reflects “the travesty that occurred.”
While it won’t undo the damage inflicted on Nassar’s victims, the deal is a significant move toward justice. It is a critical step towards correcting institutional shortcomings and avoiding such tragedies from occurring again.
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