The recent announcement by the US Justice Department regarding the $139 million settlement with 139 women highlights a significant development in the long-standing case involving former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. This settlement, reached after more than two years of legal battles initiated by a group of courageous women, including renowned athletes like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, signifies a crucial step towards justice for the victims of Nassar’s heinous actions.
The lawsuits filed against the FBI stemmed from a disturbing revelation in a 2021 Justice Department report, which detailed the failure of the FBI’s offices in Indianapolis and Los Angeles to adequately address the sexual abuse allegations against Nassar in 2015 and 2016. This failure to act promptly and effectively allowed Nassar to continue his abusive behavior unchecked for an extended period.
Nassar’s arrest in 2016, following a separate investigation by Michigan State University, where he was employed as a doctor, marked the beginning of the legal proceedings against him. Since then, Nassar has been serving a de facto life sentence for his multiple convictions related to the sexual abuse of athletes under his care.
This settlement is part of a broader effort to provide restitution to Nassar’s victims, with institutions like Michigan State University and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee also contributing significant amounts to settle claims against Nassar. The total amount paid out in settlements has now reached nearly $1 billion, reflecting the scale of the impact of Nassar’s actions and the ongoing commitment to support and compensate those affected.