US will pay $138 million to Larry Nassar’s victims, including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman

DETROIT (AP) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced a $138.7 million settlement Tuesday with greater than 100 individuals who accused the FBI of gross mishandling of sexual assault allegations against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. , a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to proceed preying on victims before being arrested.

Combined with other settlements, various organizations have now allocated $1 billion to compensate a whole lot of ladies who alleged that Nassar assaulted them under the guise of treating sports injuries.

Nassar worked at Michigan State University and was also a team physician for Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. He is currently serving several dozen years in prison for attacking sportswomen, including Olympic medalists.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said Nassar had betrayed the trust of those in his look after a long time and that “the allegations should have been taken seriously from the beginning.”

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“While these settlements will not repair the harm done to Nassar, we hope they will help the victims of his crimes with the necessary support they need to continue treatment,” Mizer said of the 139-claims settlement agreement.

The Justice Department admitted it didn’t intervene. For over a yr, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles knew concerning the charges against him, but apparently took no motion, huh an internal investigation found.

FBI Director Christopher Wray was contrite and very blunt as he spoke to survivors during a Senate hearing in 2021. Survivors of the assault included decorated Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.

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

In 2016, after a search, investigators said they found images depicting child sexual abuse and filed federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan attorney general’s office handled assault charges that ultimately shocked the sports world and led to a unprecedented, days-long sentencing hearing that featured gripping testimony about his crimes.

“I am deeply grateful. It has been a long wait for accountability from the Department of Justice,” said Rachael Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky, who will not be involved in the most recent settlement but was the primary person to come forward publicly and detail Nassar’s abuses.

“The unfortunate reality is that what we are seeing today is something most survivors will never see,” Denhollander told The Associated Press. “Most survivors never see responsibility. Most survivors will never see justice. Most survivors will never receive compensation.”

Michigan State University, which has also been accused of missing opportunities to stop Nassar for years, agreed to pay $500 million over 300 women and girls who were victims of assault. USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a settlement of $380 million.

Mick Grewal, a lawyer who represented 44 people in claims against the federal government, said the full settlement amount of $1 billion showed “the travesty that took place.”