Around 100 victims of sexual abuse by former sports doctor Nassar are to be compensated by the US government. This is what the US media reports. The women and girls complained that the FBI responded too late to tips.
The US Department of Justice has apparently agreed to pay around $100 million in compensation to around 100 victims of abuse by former sports doctor Larry Nassar. This is reported by the Wall Street Journal and the AP news agency.
An out-of-court agreement was reached a few months ago. The women had accepted the settlement in principle, the Wall Street Journal reported. According to AP information, the sum has not yet been transferred. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Star gymnast Simone Biles was among the victims
The women affected had accused the FBI in a lawsuit of reacting too late to information about the abuse, thereby enabling Nassar to continue his crimes for months. Nassar was the gymnasts’ doctor at Michigan State University. The now 60-year-old is serving a life sentence.
He is alleged to have sexually abused more than 265 women and girls during his more than two decades as a sports doctor at USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State University. Among his victims were several Olympians, including gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.
FBI: Agency failure “inexcusable”
According to authorities, Nassar’s attacks continued until his arrest in fall 2016. In a statement to the US Senate in September 2021, FBI chief Christopher Wray acknowledged his agency’s failure in the case and called it “inexcusable.” Addressing the victims, he said: “I’m sorry that so many people have let you down, time and time again.” He is particularly sorry “that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster in 2015 and failed.”
With the $100 million from the U.S. Department of Justice, the total amount of compensation for Nassar victims would rise to around $1 billion. This includes $500 million that Michigan State University promised in 2018 as part of a settlement. Those affected reached a $380 million agreement with USA Gymnastics in 2021.