DOJ agrees to pay $138 million to sexual abuse victims of Larry Nassar

Apr 23

Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Evan Hummel (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

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The Department of Justice announced a settlement of approximately $138 million with the victims of former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar, who is serving decades in prison for sexually abusing hundreds of women and girls. The legal fallout from Nassar’s crimes reached a milestone on Tuesday, April 23, as the DOJ revealed the settlement with his victims.

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More than 100 victims accused the Federal Bureau of Investigation of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Nassar from 2015-2016. The DOJ acknowledged its failure to intervene, stating that an internal investigation revealed FBI agents knew of the allegations but failed to take action.

FBI Director Christopher Wray previously apologized on behalf of the agency, condemning the actions and inaction of the FBI employees involved.

Rachael Denhollander — the first person to publicly speak out about the abuses she endured under Nassar — expressed gratitude for the settlement, acknowledging that it was a step in the right direction. However, Denhollander stressed that this is the first step, noting that failures like those seen in the FBI and DOJ are happening nationwide to survivors who lack media coverage.

Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University and served as team doctor for USA Gymnastics, is now behind bars for assaulting female athletes.

Michigan State University — accused of failing to stop Nassar — agreed to pay $500 million to over 300 women and girls who were assaulted. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee settled for $380 million.

Including the April 23 DOJ settlement, the combined compensation for victims now surpasses $1 billion.

Tags: Christopher Wray, Crime, Department of Justice, FBI, Larry Nassar, Michigan State University, Sexual Assault, U.S. Department of Justice

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FORMER TEAM USA DOCTOR LARRY NASSAR IS SERVING DECADES IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THE LEGAL FALLOUT FROM THOSE CRIMES HIT THE $1 BILLION MILESTONE TUESDAY AS THE DOJ ANNOUNCED A NEARLY $140 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH HIS VICTIMS.

MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS ACCUSED THE FBI OF GROSSLY MISHANDLING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST NASSAR FROM 2015-2016.

THE DOJ ACKNOWLEDGED ITS FAILURE TO INTERVENE, SAYING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED FBI AGENTS KNEW OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NASSAR.

BUT FAILED TO TAKE ACTION.

FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY PREVIOUSLY APOLOGIZED ON THE AGENCY’S BEHALF.

[CHRISTOPHER WRAY]

THE ACTIONS AND INACTION OF THE FBI EMPLOYEES DETAILED IN THIS REPORT ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THESE INDIVIDUALS BETRAYED THE CORE DUTY THAT THEY HAVE OF PROTECTING PEOPLE. THEY FAILED TO PROTECT YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM ABUSE.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT THE ABUSES SHE ENDURED UNDER NASSAR. SHE WAS NOT PART OF THE LATEST SETTLEMENT. BUT SAID THE SETTLEMENT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER]

I’M DEEPLY GRATEFUL. ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING. THERE FAILURES ALLOWED OVER 100 CHILDREN TO CONTINUE BEING ABUSED AND IT IS RIGHT AND JUST THAT ACCOUNTABILITY HAS COME. BUT I THINK IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. THE FAILURES THAT WE SEE HAPPENING WITH THE FBI AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, REALLY ARE JUST A BLOWN-UP PICTURE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO SURVIVORS THAT DON’T HAVE PRESS COVERAGE.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

NASSAR WORKED AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND SERVED AS A TEAM DOCTOR FOR USA GYMNASTICS.

HE’S NOW SERVING DECADES IN PRISON FOR ASSAULTING FEMALE ATHLETES.

MICHIGAN STATE ALSO STANDS ACCUSED OF FAILING TO STOP NASSAR.

THE UNIVERSITY AGREED TO PAY 500 MILLION DOLLARS TO MORE THAN 300 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO WERE ASSAULTED.

USA GYMNASTICS AND THE U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE SETTLED FOR $380 MILLION.

TUESDAY’S DOJ SETTLEMENT PUSHES THE COMBINED COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS PAST ONE BILLION DOLLARS.