The Justice Department has agreed to pay $138.7 million to settle 139 claims against the FBI for mishandling sexual assault allegations against former sports doctor Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University and was the team doctor at USA Gymnastics, is currently serving prison time for assaulting female athletes under the guise of treatment for injuries. Several athletes, including Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols, testified at a 2021 Senate hearing that the FBI failed to act on their complaints against Nassar. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer expressed regret for not taking the allegations seriously from the outset and hopes the settlements will provide support for the victims to continue healing.
In comparison to the settlement in cases arising from the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting, the settlement figure in the Nassar case exceeds $138.7 million. Former FBI agent and Fox News contributor Nicole Parker criticized the FBI’s failure in handling the allegations against Nassar, stating that no amount of money could erase the trauma the victims endured. The FBI had acknowledged its failure in the Nassar case, with an internal investigation revealing that FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles were aware of the allegations against Nassar but did not take action. FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized to the survivors at the 2021 Senate hearing, expressing regret over the missed opportunities to stop Nassar in 2015.
Investigators found images of child sex abuse in 2016 and pursued federal charges against Nassar after a search. The Michigan attorney general’s office handled the assault charges leading to Nassar’s sentencing hearing and testimony. Michigan State University agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls assaulted by Nassar, while USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement to compensate Nassar’s victims. In total, $1 billion has been set aside by various organizations to provide compensation for those affected by Nassar’s actions. The settlements aim to help the victims of Nassar’s crimes in their healing process.
Despite the settlements, the failure of the FBI to act on the allegations against Nassar has been widely criticized. Former FBI agent Nicole Parker expressed her frustration and heartbreak over the inaction by some FBI agents, stating that they should never have allowed such negligence to happen. The victims who courageously spoke up about Nassar’s abuse were let down by those who were supposed to protect them. The settlements, though substantial, cannot undo the harm caused by Nassar’s actions. The Justice Department’s agreement to pay out $138.7 million in settlements highlights the severity of the FBI’s mishandling of the allegations against Nassar and the impact on the victims.
The settlements in the Nassar case surpass those in the Parkland, Florida school shooting cases, emphasizing the gravity of the FBI’s failures in handling the allegations against Nassar. The internal investigation conducted by the Justice Department revealed that FBI agents knew about the allegations against Nassar but did not take appropriate action. FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged this failure and apologized to the survivors for not stopping Nassar when there were opportunities to do so. The settlements aim to provide support for the victims as they continue to heal from the trauma inflicted by Nassar’s abuse. The $138.7 million payout by the Justice Department underscores the need for accountability and justice for the victims of Nassar’s crimes.
