The U.S. Justice Department has announced a $138.7 million settlement with more than 100 victims who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. This critical time gap allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
The Justice Department acknowledged that it failed to step in. For more than a year, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against Nassar but apparently took no action, an internal investigation found. FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized for the agency’s failures and acknowledged that there were people at the FBI who had the chance to stop Nassar in 2015 but failed.
After a search in 2016, investigators said they had found images of child sex abuse and followed up with federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan attorney general’s office handled the assault charges that ultimately shocked the sports world and led to an extraordinary dayslong sentencing hearing with gripping testimony about his crimes.
Michigan State University, which was also accused of missing chances over many years to stop Nassar, agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee made a $380 million settlement.
Mick Grewal, an attorney who represented 44 people in claims against the government, said the $1 billion in overall settlements speaks to “the travesty that occurred.” A retired federal judge, Gregory Sleet, served as a mediator in the federal claims.
John Manly, one of the lead attorneys, said it took more than six years of effort by Nassar’s victims to demand accountability for the FBI’s misconduct.
