US government settlement Larry Nassar assault FBI $138.7M

$1 billion settlement reached for Larry Nassar victims in FBI mishandling case. Justice served after years of abuse allegations.

The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 individuals who accused the FBI of mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. This critical time gap allowed Nassar to continue preying on victims before his arrest. Combined with other settlements, a total of $1 billion has been set aside to compensate hundreds of women who were assaulted by Nassar under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries.

Nassar, a former sports doctor at Michigan State University and team doctor for USA Gymnastics, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for assaulting female athletes, including Olympic gymnasts. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer emphasized that Nassar's betrayal of trust should have been taken seriously from the beginning. While these settlements cannot undo the harm inflicted by Nassar, they aim to provide critical support to help victims in their healing process.

The Justice Department acknowledged its failure to intervene earlier, despite FBI agents having knowledge of allegations against Nassar for over a year. FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed regret and apologized to survivors, including prominent Olympians like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman. The internal investigation revealed that FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles did not take action despite being aware of the allegations.

In 2016, investigators discovered images of child sex abuse, leading to federal charges against Nassar. The Michigan attorney general's office also pursued assault charges against him, resulting in a high-profile sentencing hearing with emotional testimonies from survivors. Rachael Denhollander, who was the first to publicly speak out against Nassar, expressed gratitude for the accountability brought by the Justice Department's settlement.

Michigan State University, accused of overlooking opportunities to stop Nassar, agreed to a $500 million settlement with over 300 women and girls. Similarly, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee settled for $380 million. The total of $1 billion in settlements reflects the magnitude of the tragedy and the long-awaited justice sought by Nassar's victims.

Retired federal judge Gregory Sleet mediated the federal claims, highlighting the relentless efforts of Nassar's victims to seek justice and accountability. Lead attorney John Manly commended the survivors for their perseverance in bringing to light the misconduct of senior FBI officials. The road to justice has been marked by tears, pain, and unwavering determination, but these settlements represent a significant step towards closure for Nassar's victims.

For more information on the cases against Larry Nassar, visit https://apnews.com/hub/larry-nassar.

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