The United States Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it will pay nearly $139 million to the victims of disgraced former Team USA gymnastics doctor and convicted sex offender Larry Nassar over the FBI's mishandling of the case.
For nearly two decades, Nassar mistreated hundreds of athletes under the guise of performing medical treatment.
Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and other prominent figures in the sport were among his victims. The FBI initially did nothing in response to accusations, allowing Nassar to carry on with impunity.
He is serving a sentence of up to 175 years in jail after being found guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 of sexually abusing hundreds of athletes, including Team USA members.
In a statement released by the DOJ on Tuesday, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said that for decades, Nassar abused his position, betraying the trust of those under his care and medical supervision while skirting accountability.
Mizer added that these allegations should have been taken seriously from the outset. He said that while these settlements will not undo the harm Nassar inflicted, they hope that they will help give the victims of his crimes some of the critical support they need.
Nassar practiced sports medicine at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics for over two decades.
In June 2022, Biles, Raisman, Maroney, and other American gymnasts filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the FBI due to the agency's shortcomings. According to the DOJ, the announcement on Tuesday would cover 139 claims and distribute $138.7 million.
The resolution follows the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General's July 2021 report, which criticized the FBI's handling of an investigation into the charges against Nassar.
Furthermore, the Wall Street Journal said it includes accusations about Nassar that USA Gymnastics made to the FBI's Indianapolis field office in July 2015.
In 2021, Nassar's victims and USA Gymnastics came to a $380 million settlement, which is among the largest ever recorded for victims of sexual abuse.
