Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
In August 2016, a former female gymnast filed a criminal complaint against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. In her complaint, the gymnast said that Nassar sexually abused her when she was 15. The complaint mentioned that Nassar abused the young woman in 2000 when the athlete went to the doctor to get her lower back treated. At the time of the complaint, Nassar worked at the Michigan State University. The university subsequently relieved Nassar of his duties.
The following month, IndyStar released a report in which two gymnasts publicly accused the team doctor of sexual abuse. The report mentioned that the physician molested the victims in the early 1990s and 2000s. The victims also revealed that Nassar “fondled their genitals and breasts” and talked about oral sex. The Olympic medalist told USA Gymnastics about Larry Nassar’s inappropriate behavior, but they never took any action. As a result, the gymnast also sued the organization.
By October 2016, the attorneys in Michigan announced that they were conducting a formal review of sexual abuse allegations. Almost a month later, the authorities charged him with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, reported USA Today. As the investigations progressed, police found more sexual abuse charges against Larry Nassar. Several gymnasts came forward and testified against him during the trial. Per The New York Times, the court sentenced him to 40 to 175 years in prison.
Nassar also received a sentence of 60 years in prison on child pornography charges. People Magazine noted that Larry Nassar is currently serving his sentence at the United States Penitentiary Coleman II in Florida.
US Justice Department will pay $138 million for botched FBI investigation
For years, several gymnasts accused the Federal Bureau of Investigation of not taking any action on their complaints against Larry Nassar. Moreover, the Department of Justice recently confirmed that the FBI didn’t take the case seriously. According to The New York Times report, the DOJ is going to pay $138.7 million to sexual abuse victims of Nassar. The report also mentioned that this settlement finally marks the end of a years-long effort by the gymnasts to attain justice.
Although the victims’ lawyers were reportedly happy with the verdict, they believed the compensation came too late. One of the lawyers told The New York Times, “These women were assaulted because of the F.B.I.’s failure and there is no amount of money that will make them whole again. Their goal with all this was to make sure that this never happens again.” The settlement ultimately covers 139 claims, meaning every Larry Nassar survivor will get approximately $1 million.
CNN also reported that one of the lawyers said that the settlement ends one of the darkest chapters in sports history: “It brings the end to one of the darkest chapters — if not the darkest chapter — in American sports history.” The attorneys also believe the survivors would probably be “proud” of this result.
A victim said that they are “relieved but disappointed” with the verdict
One of the victims of Larry Nassar expressed a sense of disappointment after the settlement. The victim said, “I’m relieved but disappointed that no one person is being held accountable for failing to report the abuse and for sweeping it under the rug. I definitely have no trust in that institution anymore.”
More than 160 women said that Larry Nassar sexually abused them, per The New York Times. Some of them, including gymnasts, testified during the trial and called him a “monster”. Some called him the “most dangerous type of abuse,” while others noted that Nassar made their lives a “living hell.”
