The US Department of Justice will pay more than $138 million in compensation to victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse. For years, Nassar served as the doctor for the US national gymnastics team.
A former doctor for the USA Gymnastics National Team Larry Nassar victims of sexual abuse will receive compensation of 138.7 million dollars, or about 130 million euros, from the country’s Ministry of Justice, the ministry announced on Tuesday. The damages are being paid because judicial authorities failed in their investigation into Nassar’s actions.
In January 2018, Nassar received a long prison sentence for sexually abusing more than 150 girls and young women. The victims included, among others, Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney. Although complaints were filed against Nassar, the FBI did not investigate the cases and Nassar was allowed to continue his crimes. He was finally jailed in 2016.
– I’m sorry that so many let you down, again and again. And I’m especially sorry that there were people in the FBI who had a chance to stop this monster in 2015 and they failed, FBI Director Christopher Wray told victims at a US Senate hearing in 2021.
Used his position for decades
In June 2022, Biles, Raisman, Maroney and numerous other US gymnasts demanded a billion dollars in compensation from the FBI for its failures.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the compensation amount announced on Tuesday covers a total of 139 claims.
– Nassar took advantage of his position for decades. The accusations should have been taken seriously right from the start. And while these sums will not replace the harm Nassar caused, we hope they will help victims get the vital support they need to continue their recovery, the Justice Department said in a statement after the compensation decision.
Nassar’s victims reached a settlement with the United States Gymnastics Association (USAG) in 2021 for compensation of $380 million. Michigan State University, meanwhile, had reached a $500 million settlement with hundreds of Nassar’s victims in 2018.