The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 people who accused the FBI of mishandling sexual assault allegations against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. The settlement joins other compensations, bringing the total amount set aside by various organizations to roughly $1 billion for hundreds of women who claim to have been assaulted by Nassar under the pretense of treating sports injuries. Nassar worked at Michigan State University and also served as a team doctor at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. He is currently serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including Olympic gymnasts who have won medals.
The Justice Department has acknowledged its failure to intervene. An internal investigation revealed that for over a year, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against Nassar but apparently took no action. FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed remorse and candor when addressing survivors at a Senate hearing in 2021.
Decorated Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney are among the assault survivors.
“I’m sorry that so many different people let you down, over and over again,” Wray said. “And I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed.”
Following an investigation in 2016, investigators stated that they had discovered images of child sexual abuse and subsequently filed federal charges against Nassar. Separately, the Michigan attorney general’s office handled the assault charges that eventually shocked the sports world and resulted in an extraordinary dayslong sentencing hearing where victims gave emotional testimony about his crimes.
“I’m deeply grateful. Accountability with the Justice Department has been a long time in coming,” said Rachael Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky, who is not part of the recent settlement but was the first to publicly come forward and provide details of Nassar’s abuse.
“The unfortunate reality is that what we are seeing today is something that most survivors never see,” Denhollander told The Associated Press. “Most survivors never see accountability. Most survivors never see justice. Most survivors never get restitution.”
Michigan State University, also accused of missing opportunities to stop Nassar over many years, 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 settled for $380 million.
