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 critical time gap allowed Nassar, a former sports doctor at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, to continue preying on victims before his eventual arrest.
Combined with other settlements, a total of $1 billion has now been set aside to compensate hundreds of women who were assaulted by Nassar under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries. Nassar is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes, which included assaulting Olympic gymnasts.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer emphasized that Nassar’s actions should have been taken seriously from the beginning, and while the settlements cannot undo the harm inflicted, they aim to provide support for the victims to continue their healing process.
The Justice Department admitted to its failure to intervene despite having knowledge of the allegations against Nassar. FBI Director Christopher Wray publicly apologized to the survivors, including prominent Olympians like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, for the agency’s inaction in 2015.
Rachael Denhollander, who was the first to publicly accuse Nassar of abuse, expressed gratitude for the accountability brought by the settlement. She noted that many survivors never see justice or restitution, making this outcome significant in the fight against abuse in sports.
Overall, the $1 billion in settlements reflects the magnitude of the injustice that occurred, with Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also agreeing to substantial payouts to Nassar’s victims.