The Justice Department has agreed to pay nearly $139 million to victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing young athletes under the guise of medical treatment. The settlement resolves legal claims brought over the department's failure to investigate allegations that could have brought Nassar to justice sooner and prevented dozens of assaults.
Nassar, who worked for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, sexually abused hundreds of women and girls over a span of decades. FBI agents failed to alert local authorities in any of the places where Nassar continued to treat young gymnasts while he was under investigation.
The settlement brings to a close the last major legal case over Nassar's abuses, which occurred at international events including the Olympics, as well as at Michigan State and local gymnastics centers in Michigan and around the country.
The Justice Department's inspector general found that FBI officials in Indianapolis failed to respond to allegations of abuse involving Nassar with the utmost seriousness and urgency, allowing the abuse to continue. The report also found that FBI officials made numerous errors and violated multiple policies in their investigative activity.
Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols are among the more than 100 victims who filed claims with the Justice Department. In a statement, acting associate attorney general Benjamin Mizer said, 'These allegations should have been taken seriously from the outset. While these settlements won't undo the harm Nassar inflicted, our hope is that they will help give the victims of his crimes some of the critical support they need to continue healing.'
The settlement brings the combined liability payouts in legal cases brought by victims of Nassar's abuse to more than $1 billion. Michigan State agreed to distribute $500 million to survivors, while USA Gymnastics reached a separate settlement with them worth $380 million.
