DETROIT (AP) – The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday awarded a $138.7 million settlement with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling sexual assault allegations against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. Announced. This significant time gap made it possible for sports doctors to continue their activities. They prey on their victims before they are arrested.
Combined with other settlements, various organizations have now set aside $1 billion to compensate hundreds of women who say Nassar assaulted them under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries.
Nassar worked at Michigan State University and also served as team physician for Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. he is now serve decades in prison Charges of assaulting female athletes, including medal-winning Olympic gymnasts.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said Nassar betrayed the trust of the people he cared for for decades and that “the allegations should have been taken seriously from the beginning.”
“While this settlement does not undo the harm Nassar caused, it does provide the victims of Nassar’s crimes with the critical support they need to continue their recovery,” Meiser said of the agreement to resolve 139 claims. I hope we can provide some of that.”
The Justice Department admitted it had failed to intervene. FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles were aware of the allegations against him for more than a year, but apparently took no action. This was discovered through an internal investigation.
FBI Director Christopher Wray was contrite and very candid when speaking to survivors at a 2021 Senate hearing. Survivors of the assault include Olympian honorees Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.
“I’m sorry so many people have let you down so many times,” Ray said. “And I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had the chance to stop this monster in 2015 and failed.”
As a result of the search, investigators announced in 2016 that they had discovered images of child sexual abuse and continued federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office handled an assault charge that ultimately shocked the sports world and led to an unusual multi-day sentencing hearing with shocking testimony about his crimes.
“I really appreciate it. Accountability to the Department of Justice is long overdue,” said Rachel Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky. Although he is not part of the settlement, he is the first person to come forward publicly and detail abuse by Mr. Nassar.
“The unfortunate reality is that what we are seeing today is something that most survivors will never see,” Denhollander told The Associated Press. “Most survivors never feel any responsibility. Most survivors will never know justice. Most survivors will never receive reparations.”
Michigan State has also been accused of missing opportunities to stop Nassar over the years. agreed to pay $500 million More than 300 women and girls have been assaulted.USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee The case was settled for $380 million.
Mick Grewal, a lawyer who represented 44 people in lawsuits against the government, said the $1 billion settlement speaks to the “travesty that occurred.”
Retired federal judge Gregory Sleet served as arbitrator on the federal claims.
“It took six years of tears, pain, and tireless efforts by Nassar’s victims, including many of our nation’s most famous athletes, to shine a light on justice and demand accountability for the horrific misconduct committed by top FBI officials. ” said John Manley, one of the lead attorneys.
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Associated Press writer Mike Householder in Detroit; Dylan Lovan of Louisville, Kentucky. and Alana Durkin Richer in Washington, DC, contributed to this article.
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For the latest information on the lawsuit against Larry Nassar, please see below. https://apnews.com/hub/Larry Nassar
