#Socialites get into this: the Justice Department has come to a $138.7 million agreement with over 100 survivors of disgraced Olympic Team USA gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.
This settlement, disclosed by the DOJ on Tuesday, resolves a total of 139 claims against the FBI, accusing the agency of inadequately looking into Nassar’s decades-long pattern of sexual abuse. Nassar, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes against female athletes, including prominent Olympic gymnasts, had exploited his positions at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics to perpetrate his abuse.
As previously reported, the FBI’s mishandling of the 2015 and 2016 investigations into Nassar, which allowed him to continue victimizing individuals until his eventual arrest in 2016, has been a focal point of scrutiny and accountability efforts. Following a report by the Office of Inspector General in July 2021 highlighting the FBI’s errors and lack of appropriate seriousness in handling the case, steps were eventually taken to address these unfortunate shortcomings.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer remarked on the settlement, saying, “For decades, Lawrence Nassar abused his position, betraying the trust of those under his care and medical supervision while skirting accountability,” He continued saying this Tuesday, “These allegations should have been taken seriously from the outset. While these settlements won’t undo the harm Nassar inflicted, our hope is that they will help give the victims of his crimes some of the critical support they need to continue healing,” Mizer added.
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In addition to the DOJ settlement, Michigan State University, implicated in its failure to prevent Nassar’s abuses over an extended period, agreed to a $500 million payout to more than 300 women and girls impacted by the assaults. Furthermore, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement, as reported by The Associated Press.
With this latest settlement, the total compensation for Nassar’s victims now nears the significant milestone of $1 billion, underscoring the extensive impact of his actions and the collective effort to provide support and redress for those affected.