Indianapolis, Indiana – The Justice Department reached a groundbreaking settlement on Tuesday, agreeing to pay nearly $139 million to victims of former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. This settlement arises from legal claims filed against the department for failing to investigate allegations promptly, which could have led to Nassar facing justice sooner and prevented numerous assaults.
This settlement marks one of the largest in the history of the Justice Department and serves as a resolution to one of the most disturbing chapters in Olympic sports history in the United States. Nassar’s extensive abuses occurred over multiple decades at prestigious international events, including the Olympics, as well as at Michigan State University, where Nassar was employed, and various gymnastics centers across Michigan and the nation.
Once a well-respected figure in elite gymnastic circles due to his ties with Team USA, Nassar committed hundreds of alleged assaults under the guise of medical treatment. Numerous members of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams, such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, have come forward with accounts of abuse by Nassar.
Nassar, currently 60 years old, is serving a de facto life sentence for federal convictions related to child pornography possession, along with state convictions for sexually assaulting patients under his care. The Justice Department’s 2021 inspector general report highlighted how FBI agents in the Indianapolis and Los Angeles field offices failed to adequately respond to allegations against Nassar during 2015 and 2016.
The report revealed alarming details, such as a top FBI official in Indianapolis, who oversaw the investigation, concurrently applying for a position with the U.S. Olympic Committee while deceiving the inspector general’s office about the situation. In Los Angeles, agents neglected to notify local authorities where Nassar continued treating young gymnasts despite being under investigation.
More than 70 girls and women later came forward in court filings, stating that Nassar assaulted them between 2015 and his arrest in November 2016. The settlement reached on Tuesday by the department includes $138.7 million to address 139 legal claims related to the mishandling of the Nassar case.
Acting associate attorney general Benjamin C. Mizer expressed, “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 provide the victims of his crimes with the necessary support to aid in their healing process.”
This significant announcement has brought the total sum paid to Nassar’s victims to over $1 billion across various institutions compensating survivors for their suffering. John Manly, an attorney representing over 100 women involved in the Justice Department settlement, mentioned that while the settlement brings closure, it falls short of the criminal charges the victims desired to see against the implicated agents.
After emotional testimonies from victims, including Biles and Maroney, to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2021, the Justice Department agreed to reassess the decision not to pursue criminal charges against two FBI agents from the Indianapolis office. However, following the review, the department again opted not to bring charges against the agents.
Notably, the Justice Department has previously reached similar settlements with victims of mass shootings involving accusations of negligence against federal agencies. These settlements highlight the ongoing efforts to address past wrongs and provide some form of justice and redress to the victims and their families.