The US Department of Justice will pay $139 million to victims of USA Gymnastics sexual abuse

The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday it had agreed to pay nearly $139 million to the victims of sex abuser Larry Nassar over the botched investigation into the former USA Gymnastics team doctor.

For nearly two decades, Nassar subjected hundreds of people to abuse under the guise of providing medical treatment.

His victims included Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and other top names in the sport. Despite complaints, the FBI initially took no action, and Nassar continued to act with impunity.

He was ultimately convicted in late 2017 and early 2018 of sexually assaulting hundreds of athletes, and is serving a prison sentence of up to 175 years.

“For decades … Nassar has abused his position, betrayed the trust of those under his care and under medical supervision, while evading accountability,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Department of Justice has been released.

“These allegations should have been taken seriously from the start. (…) While these settlements will not undo the damage Nassar has caused, we hope they will give the victims of his crimes the critical support they need to continue healing.”

Nassar worked for more than twenty years as a sports doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.

Biles, Raisman, Maroney and other American gymnasts filed a $1 billion claim against the FBI in June 2022 over her failures. Tuesday’s announcement covers 139 claims and will distribute a total of $138.7 million, the DoJ said.

(AFP)

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