DOJ agrees to pay $138 million to sexual abuse victims of Larry Nassar

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FORMER TEAM USA DOCTOR LARRY NASSAR IS SERVING DECADES IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. 

THE LEGAL FALLOUT FROM THOSE CRIMES HIT THE $1 BILLION MILESTONE TUESDAY AS THE DOJ ANNOUNCED A NEARLY $140 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH HIS VICTIMS.

MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS ACCUSED THE FBI OF GROSSLY MISHANDLING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST NASSAR FROM 2015-2016.

THE DOJ ACKNOWLEDGED ITS FAILURE TO INTERVENE, SAYING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED FBI AGENTS KNEW OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NASSAR.

BUT FAILED TO TAKE ACTION.

FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY PREVIOUSLY APOLOGIZED ON THE AGENCY’S BEHALF.

[CHRISTOPHER WRAY]

THE ACTIONS AND INACTION OF THE FBI EMPLOYEES DETAILED IN THIS REPORT ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THESE INDIVIDUALS BETRAYED THE CORE DUTY THAT THEY HAVE OF PROTECTING PEOPLE. THEY FAILED TO PROTECT YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM ABUSE.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT THE ABUSES SHE ENDURED UNDER NASSAR. SHE WAS NOT PART OF THE LATEST SETTLEMENT. BUT SAID THE SETTLEMENT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER]

I’M DEEPLY GRATEFUL. ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING. THERE FAILURES ALLOWED OVER 100 CHILDREN TO CONTINUE BEING ABUSED AND IT IS RIGHT AND JUST THAT ACCOUNTABILITY HAS COME. BUT I THINK IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. THE FAILURES THAT WE SEE HAPPENING WITH THE FBI AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, REALLY ARE JUST A BLOWN-UP PICTURE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO SURVIVORS THAT DON’T HAVE PRESS COVERAGE.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

NASSAR WORKED AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND SERVED AS A TEAM DOCTOR FOR USA GYMNASTICS. 

HE’S NOW SERVING DECADES IN PRISON FOR ASSAULTING FEMALE ATHLETES.

MICHIGAN STATE ALSO STANDS ACCUSED OF FAILING TO STOP NASSAR. 

THE UNIVERSITY AGREED TO PAY 500 MILLION DOLLARS TO MORE THAN 300 WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO WERE ASSAULTED. 

USA GYMNASTICS AND THE U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE SETTLED FOR $380 MILLION.

TUESDAY’S DOJ SETTLEMENT PUSHES THE COMBINED COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS PAST ONE BILLION DOLLARS.