Investigation into FBI’s Failures in Handling Larry Nassar Case Leads to $100 Million Settlement

The United States Justice Department has agreed to pay around 100 victims of disgraced former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar approximately $100 million for the FBI’s failures to properly investigate reports of Nassar’s sexual assaults against America’s top gymnasts and others, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This settlement would bring the total amount of settlements in the cases against Nassar to almost $1 billion.

The FBI’s mishandling of the Nassar case has been well-documented. FBI director Christopher Wray publicly apologized to Nassar’s survivors at a Senate hearing in 2021, acknowledging that agents failed to stop the abuse when they had the opportunity in 2015.

Internal Investigation

A five-week internal investigation conducted by the USA Gymnastics officials in the summer of 2015 revealed that three Team USA gymnasts reported being sexually assaulted by Nassar during treatment sessions. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, senior officials in the FBI Indianapolis Field Office did not respond with the necessary urgency.

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General found that the field agents did not take any investigative action for five weeks. Additionally, they did not transfer the matter to the Lansing, Michigan field office, where Nassar continued to treat patients. Even after conducting just one interview in September 2015, there was a lack of investigative activity for over eight months while Nassar’s abuse persisted.

Victims’ Testimonies

Former Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Maggie Nichols are among the claimants in the pending settlement. These women testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting the impact of the FBI’s negligence on their lives. Biles expressed feeling ignored by the FBI, while Maroney stated that the agency’s inaction allowed Nassar to abuse freely for an extended period.

The $100 million settlement serves as a form of justice for the victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse and shines a light on the consequences of the FBI’s failures. Moving forward, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to take allegations of abuse seriously and act swiftly to protect victims and prevent further harm.