The United States Justice Department has recently reached an agreement to pay approximately $100 million to around 100 victims of former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar. This settlement comes in response to the FBI’s negligence in properly investigating reports of Nassar’s sexual assaults against America’s top gymnasts and others. The Wall Street Journal reported this news on Wednesday, shedding light on the failures of the FBI in handling the Nassar case.
The FBI’s mishandling of the Nassar case has been well-documented, revealing a series of oversights and errors that allowed Nassar to continue his abuse unchecked. In a Senate hearing in 2021, FBI director Christopher Wray issued a public apology to the survivors of Nassar’s abuse, acknowledging that agents had missed a crucial opportunity to stop the predator back in 2015. The Office of Inspector General’s report highlighted the lack of urgency and seriousness with which the allegations against Nassar were handled by the FBI field office in Indianapolis.
Despite receiving reports from USA Gymnastics in the summer of 2015 regarding Nassar’s inappropriate behavior, the FBI failed to take immediate action. The internal investigation conducted by the FBI found that no investigative activities were undertaken for five weeks, allowing Nassar to continue his assaults unchecked. Even after a brief interview in September 2015, the FBI neglected the case for over eight months, during which time Nassar abused approximately 100 women.
While the settlement with the victims is yet to be finalized, it is expected to bring the total amount of settlements in the Nassar case to nearly $1 billion. Notable claimants in this settlement include former Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and ex-Team USA member Maggie Nichols. These women bravely testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2021, shedding light on the personal toll of the FBI’s failures in handling the Nassar case.
During the Senate hearing, Simone Biles expressed her disappointment in the FBI’s inability to take action after her report, stating that it felt like they turned a blind eye to their suffering. McKayla Maroney, another victim, testified that the FBI’s inaction had allowed a child molester to roam free for over a year, perpetuating his abuse. The emotional testimonies of these survivors underscore the devastating impact of the FBI’s negligence in the Nassar case.
The Justice Department’s agreement to pay victims of Larry Nassar around $100 million is a significant step towards acknowledging the failures of the FBI in handling this case. The delayed response and lack of urgency in investigating Nassar’s crimes allowed him to continue his abuse, impacting hundreds of women. Moving forward, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to take reports of sexual abuse seriously and act promptly to prevent further harm to victims.
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