DoJ to pay $138.7m settlement over FBI’s botching of Nassar assault allegations | Gymnastics




The US justice department announced a $138.7m settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.

When combined with other settlements, roughly $1bn now has been set aside by various organizations to compensate hundreds of women who said Nassar assaulted them under the guise of treatment for sports injuries.

Nassar worked at Michigan State University and also served as a team doctor at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. He’s now serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including medal-winning Olympic gymnasts.

The justice department has acknowledged that it failed to step in. For more than a year, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against him but apparently took no action, an internal investigation found.

FBI director Christopher Wray was contrite – and very blunt – when he spoke to survivors at a Senate hearing in 2021. The assault survivors include decorated Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.

“I’m sorry that so many different people let you down, over and over again,” Wray said. “And I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed.”

After a search, investigators said in 2016 that they had found images of child sex abuse and followed up with federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan attorney general’s office handled the assault charges that ultimately shocked the sports world and led to an extraordinary dayslong sentencing hearing with gripping testimony about his crimes.

“I’m deeply grateful. Accountability with the justice department has been a long time in coming,” said Rachael Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky, who is not part of the latest settlement but was the first person to publicly step forward and detail abuse at the hands of Nassar.

“The unfortunate reality is that what we are seeing today is something that most survivors never see,” Denhollander told the Associated Press. “Most survivors never see accountability. Most survivors never see justice. Most survivors never get restitution.”

Michigan State University, which was also accused of missing chances over many years to stop Nassar, agreed to pay $500m to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted. USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee made a $380m settlement.



Source link

Posted: 2024-04-23 18:02:57

Prince Harry's Glastonbury partying antics revealed by founder | Royal | News
 



... Read More

Baltimore bridge collapse investigators gather black box from Dali ship
 



... Read More

Donald Trump criminal trial over hush money begins in New York – live | Donald Trump trials
 



... Read More

Nottingham Forest issue statement as club appeal Premier League PSR charges | Football | Sport
 



... Read More

Arsenal v Bayern Munich: Champions League quarter-final, first leg – live | Champions League
 



... Read More

Car SOS hosts Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend advice to all classic car owners in 2024
 



... Read More

Paul McCartney speaks out on theory Marlon Brando inspired The Beatles band name | Music | Entertainment
 



... Read More

Reform leader tells candidates not to post on social media when drunk | Politics | News
 



... Read More