The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 individuals who accused the FBI of mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. This negligence allowed Nassar, a sports doctor, to continue preying on victims before his eventual arrest. Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, is serving a lengthy prison sentence for assaulting female athletes, including Olympic gymnasts. This settlement, combined with others, brings the total amount set aside to compensate victims of Nassar’s abuse to $1 billion.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer acknowledged that Nassar had betrayed the trust of those under his care for many years, stating that the allegations against him should have been taken more seriously from the beginning. The settlements will not be able to undo the harm caused by Nassar, but it is hoped that they will provide some critical support to help victims in their healing process. The Justice Department has also admitted its failure to intervene in a timely manner, as FBI agents were aware of allegations against Nassar for over a year but did not take any action.
FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized to survivors, including Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, during a Senate hearing in 2021. He expressed regret that various individuals had let them down repeatedly and that FBI staff missed an opportunity to stop Nassar in 2015. Ultimately, investigators found evidence of child sex abuse in 2016 and filed federal charges against Nassar. Simultaneously, the Michigan attorney general’s office pursued assault charges that led to a widely publicized sentencing hearing where survivors provided harrowing testimony of Nassar’s crimes.
Rachael Denhollander, who was the first to publicly accuse Nassar, expressed gratitude for the Justice Department’s accountability. She emphasized that justice and restitution are often elusive for abuse survivors and that the $1 billion in settlements reflects the magnitude of the travesty that occurred. Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics made significant settlements in addition to the government’s settlement with victims. The total amount highlights the severity of Nassar’s actions and the significant impact they had on numerous individuals.
Denhollander also stressed that most survivors never receive the justice and restitution that has been provided in this case. The lengthy process of holding Nassar and the institutions that enabled his abuse accountable has been a long time coming for many survivors. The combined efforts of the Justice Department, Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee have resulted in a substantial financial commitment to support the healing and recovery of Nassar’s victims. The settlements underscore the importance of taking allegations of abuse seriously and ensuring accountability for those responsible for such heinous crimes.
