US government settles for $138.7 million in response to mishandling of Larry Nassar assault allegations by FBI

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 the sports doctor to continue preying on victims before his eventual arrest. Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for assaulting female athletes, including Olympic gymnasts.

With this latest settlement, a total of $1 billion has been set aside by various organizations to compensate hundreds of women who were victims of Nassar’s abuse under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer emphasized that Nassar’s betrayal of trust should have been taken seriously from the beginning.

The Justice Department admitted to its failure to intervene despite having knowledge of the allegations against Nassar for over a year. FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed regret and apologized to survivors, including prominent Olympians like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, for the agency’s inaction. The investigation eventually led to federal charges against Nassar in 2016 after the discovery of child sex abuse images.

Rachael Denhollander, who was the first to publicly accuse Nassar, expressed gratitude for the accountability brought by the settlements. She highlighted the rarity of survivors receiving justice and restitution in such cases. Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics have also agreed to significant settlements in response to the widespread abuse perpetrated by Nassar.

Attorney Mick Grewal, representing numerous claimants, underscored the significance of the $1 billion in settlements as a response to the profound injustice that occurred. The survivors’ long-awaited restitution and the acknowledgment of institutional failures mark a crucial step towards healing and accountability in the aftermath of Nassar’s crimes.