Indianapolis, Indiana – The US Justice Department has agreed to pay $138.7 million to survivors of former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. The settlement comes after a 2022 lawsuit where victims accused the FBI of mishandling complaints of sexual assault by Nassar and not taking them seriously.
Among the 139 claimants were US Olympic gymnastics gold medallists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. Nassar is currently serving up to 175 years in prison for sexual assault.
The investigation into Nassar by the FBI began in 2015 but was marred by errors, as revealed by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General in 2021. The agency was criticized for disregarding allegations against Nassar, including a failure to document meetings with USA Gymnastics officials and not alerting state and local authorities about the risk he posed to athletes.
Many of the claimants reported being assaulted after the initial allegations against Nassar in 2015. Most were affiliated with the USA Gymnastics program or Michigan State University, where Nassar had a clinic.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer described Nassar’s actions as a betrayal of trust and emphasized the seriousness of the allegations. He acknowledged that while the settlements cannot undo the harm inflicted by Nassar, they aim to provide crucial support for the victims in their healing process.
In a statement, McKayla Maroney expressed feeling let down by institutions like the US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI, and the Department of Justice. She emphasized the importance of legal action in seeking justice and healing for Nassar’s victims.
The total legal payouts linked to Nassar’s misconduct exceed $1 billion, including settlements with Michigan State University and various athletic organizations. In 2021, FBI Director Christopher Wray issued an apology to the athletes and dismissed an agent involved in the flawed investigation.
More than 330 women have accused Nassar of sexual abuse. He is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for multiple sexual assault convictions and related crimes involving child sex abuse. Nassar’s encounter with violence in prison last year highlighted the ongoing repercussions of his heinous actions.