Washington. A doctor abuses 250 gymnasts. Because the FBI responded so late, the US Department of Justice is now paying millions of dollars in damages.
The U.S. Department of Justice will award $138.7 million in damages to multiple victims of former sports doctor and gymnastics official Larry Nassar's abuse. According to a report, 139 administrative cases related to Nassar's sexual abuse allegations have been resolved.
In a lawsuit filed by the top security agency, the FBI, the women and girls alleged that the victims were too late to follow up on their reports of abuse, which allowed Nassar to commit more crimes for more than a year until his arrest in the fall of 2016. The Justice Department said the settlement reached now resolves the administration's claims against the United States. The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press had already expressed their willingness to pay compensation earlier in the week.
For decades, Nassar “abused the trust of people under his care and medical supervision while avoiding responsibility,” said Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer was quoted in the statement as saying: “These charges are serious from the outset and should be taken. While these settlements will not reverse the damage Nassar has caused, we hope they will help provide victims of his crimes with the critical support they need to continue to heal.”
Nassar pleaded guilty in November 2017
Nassar, 60, was a physician for gymnasts at the USA Gymnastics Association and Michigan State University for more than 20 years. During this time he allegedly sexually abused 265 women and girls, including Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney. FBI Director Christopher Wray admitted to the US Senate in September 2021 his agency's “inexcusable” failure.
Nassar pleaded guilty in November 2017 and was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for more than 250 counts of sexual assault in three convictions. World star Biles testified at the trial along with more than 150 other victims.
Compensation has already been awarded to victims of abuse, and the total is now over a billion dollars. In 2018, Nassar's former employer, Michigan State University, pledged $500 million in a settlement, and a $380 million deal was reached with the USA Gymnastics Association through 2021.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240423-99-781604/2 (dpa)
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