The Department of Justice has agreed to pay more than $138 million to victims of former sports physician Larry Nassar and has issued an apology for the FBI’s failure to act on warnings about his abusive behavior. The settlement comes after years of internal investigations that found FBI agents in Indianapolis made significant errors by not notifying other authorities about Nassar. The settlement, which will resolve 139 claims made against the FBI, acknowledges institutional failures when victims first raised concerns about Nassar’s misconduct.
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer stated that the FBI failed to conduct a thorough investigation into Nassar’s conduct, allowing him to abuse his position and betray the trust of those under his care while avoiding accountability. While the settlements won’t undo the harm that Nassar inflicted, they are intended to provide some critical support to the victims as they continue to heal. This settlement follows previous civil settlements, including one between Michigan State University and Nassar’s victims for $500 million in 2018, as well as a $380 million deal reached by USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee with victims in 2021.
Larry Nassar, who is currently serving time at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, is not likely to be released due to his 60-year-sentence for federal charges related to child pornography. In 2018, Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison by a judge in Ingham County, Michigan, for sexually abusing young girls under the guise of medical treatment. Another judge in Eaton County sentenced him to 40 to 125 years behind bars for charges connected to his abuse of women and girls. The settlements with the victims of Nassar’s abuse acknowledge the failures of institutions in responding to allegations of misconduct and aim to provide some measure of support to the survivors.
The $138.7 million settlement with the Department of Justice is the latest step in seeking justice for the victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse. It marks the culmination of years of internal investigations that found FBI agents in Indianapolis had made significant errors in handling allegations against Nassar. The settlement is intended to provide support to the victims of Nassar’s abuse as they continue to heal from the trauma he inflicted upon them. The government’s acknowledgment of the failure to take allegations of Nassar’s misconduct seriously from the outset underscores the importance of holding institutions accountable for their actions in cases of sexual abuse.
The settlements with Larry Nassar’s victims represent a step towards acknowledging the harm caused by his actions and providing support to those who were affected by his abuse of power. The settlements also serve as a reminder of the importance of taking allegations of sexual abuse seriously at all levels of an organization and ensuring that appropriate action is taken to address the misconduct. By holding institutions accountable for their failures to respond effectively to reports of abuse, the settlements seek to provide a measure of justice and support to the survivors of Larry Nassar’s abuse. The government’s apology for the FBI’s failure to investigate Nassar’s conduct effectively signals a commitment to addressing the institutional failures that allowed his abuse to continue unchecked for so long.
The settlements with Larry Nassar’s victims are part of a broader effort to seek justice for survivors of sexual abuse and hold institutions accountable for their failures to prevent harm. The settlements reflect a recognition of the devastating impact of Nassar’s abuse on his victims and the need to provide support and compensation to those who have suffered as a result of his actions. By acknowledging the failures of institutions to respond effectively to reports of abuse, the settlements aim to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future and promote a culture of accountability and transparency in organizations that serve vulnerable populations. The government’s commitment to providing support to Nassar’s victims through these settlements represents an important step towards healing and justice for those who were harmed by his abuse.
