The Justice Department revealed on Tuesday its decision to compensate victims of former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar with nearly $139 million. This settlement marks the resolution of legal claims against the department for its failure to investigate allegations promptly, which could have led to Nassar being brought to justice earlier and prevented numerous assaults. This settlement stands as one of the largest in Justice Department history and signifies the conclusion of a painful chapter in Olympic sports in the United States.
Larry Nassar, once esteemed within elite gymnastics circles, perpetrated countless assaults over decades, often disguised as medical treatment. His abuses extended across international events, including the Olympics, as well as at Michigan State University and various gymnastics centers nationwide. Members of multiple U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams, such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, have come forward with allegations of abuse by Nassar.
Nassar, now 60, is serving a de facto life sentence for federal convictions related to child pornography possession, along with state convictions for sexually assaulting patients under his care. A 2021 Justice Department inspector general’s report revealed that FBI agents in the Indianapolis and Los Angeles field offices inadequately responded to allegations against Nassar raised in 2015 and 2016.
In one instance, a top FBI official overseeing the investigation in Indianapolis was simultaneously seeking employment with the U.S. Olympic Committee, and later misled the inspector general’s office about this situation. In Los Angeles, agents failed to alert local authorities in places where Nassar continued to treat young gymnasts while under investigation.
Subsequently, more than 70 girls and women alleged in court filings that Nassar assaulted them between 2015 and his arrest in November 2016. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray publicly apologized to Nassar’s victims, and the bureau terminated an agent in the Indianapolis office involved with the case.
The Justice Department’s announcement includes a settlement of $138.7 million to resolve 139 legal claims regarding its handling of the Nassar case. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and expressed hope that the settlements would provide some support to the victims in their healing process.
With this settlement, the total compensation paid out to Nassar’s victims surpasses $1 billion, including previous agreements by Michigan State University and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. However, John Manly, an attorney representing over 100 of the women involved in the Justice Department settlement, noted that while it brings closure, it falls short of the criminal charges they sought against the involved agents.
Despite emotional testimonies from victims like Biles and Maroney to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2021, the Justice Department conducted a review but ultimately decided against criminal charges for the two FBI agents accused of making false statements. The Justice Department has previously reached similar settlements with victims of mass shootings involving allegations of negligence by federal agencies.
