CNN
—
The Justice Department has reached a $138.7 million settlement with more than 100 victims of disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar over the FBI’s initial failures in investigating sexual assault cases.
More than 150 women and girls, including Olympic athletes, have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them under the guise of providing medical treatment. Victims say the FBI was unable to investigate their claims.
Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing young athletes under the guise of medical treatment and sentenced to up to 175 years in prison in a Michigan state court.
“For decades, Mr. Lawrence Nassar has abused his position and betrayed the trust of those under his care and medical supervision while avoiding accountability,” said the acting deputy attorney general. Benjamin Mizer said in a statement Tuesday. “These allegations should have been taken seriously from the beginning. While these settlements do not undo the harm Nassar did, it is our hope that the victims of Nassar’s crimes will continue to heal. It’s about helping to provide some of the critical support that is needed.”
The Justice Department said that top officials at the FBI’s Indianapolis field office failed to respond to Nassar and others’ allegations, made numerous fundamental errors in their response, and that they were involved in multiple FBI investigations during the investigation. It acknowledged failings in a scathing inspector general’s report that revealed violations of policy.
Nassar’s victim attorney, John Manley, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday night that he was relieved by the settlement.
“On one level, I feel like a victory, but on another level, if the FBI had acted when this was reported, over 100 children would not have been sexually abused by Larry Nassar. I’m just deeply saddened to know that he died,” Manley said.
“This concludes one of the darkest chapters, if not the darkest, in American sports history,” the attorney added.
But Manley said there were still investigators who got it wrong and weren’t held accountable, adding: “That’s not justice.”
“So, even though it (the settlement) is an imperfect result, it’s something that I’m very proud of and I think my client is proud of as well. And it was the result of a massive struggle. ”
In 2021, Nassar’s victims reached a $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee, and their insurance companies. In 2022, the Justice Department offered to begin settlement talks with sexual assault victims.
This story has been updated with additional details.
