The United States government and Larry Nassar’s victims are in the process of finalizing a settlement that would resolve claims that the FBI failed to properly investigate allegations of abuse against the former USA Gymnastics physician. The amount of the settlement is not yet finalized, but discussions are ongoing between the parties. If reached, the settlement will be paid out by the Justice Department to around 100 of Nassar’s victims, including high-profile Olympians like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney. The Justice Department, FBI, and attorneys for the victims have not commented on the potential settlement.
A Department of Justice inspector general report released in July 2021 revealed that the FBI failed to act on reports of abuse by Nassar in 2015, allowing him to continue targeting individuals for months. FBI agents involved in the case lied to cover up their inaction, but were either fired or retired and never faced criminal prosecution. In a lawsuit filed in 2022 against the FBI, Nassar’s survivors alleged negligence and wrongdoing, leading to discussions of a settlement to resolve their claims against the federal government. The FBI Director and Attorney General have both condemned the mishandling of the Nassar case, vowing to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Settlements related to Larry Nassar’s abuse have now reached almost $1 billion, with Michigan State University agreeing to pay $500 million to survivors and make reforms to prevent future abuse. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also reached a $380 million settlement with Nassar’s victims, which includes commitments to prevent abuse moving forward. Nassar is currently serving prison sentences for multiple counts of sexual abuse and child pornography after pleading guilty to charges in 2017 and 2018. The settlement with the US government would likely bring closure to the victims’ claims against the FBI and resolve their legal battle for accountability.
The potential settlement with the US government comes after federal prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges against FBI agents involved in the Nassar case, despite acknowledging the mishandling of the investigation. Both FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland have expressed regret over the failures in the case, promising to learn from the past and improve future investigations. The settlement discussions with Nassar’s victims and the US government signal a step towards accountability and justice for those impacted by the abuse, bringing a sense of closure and potentially compensation for the survivors. The final dollar amount and details of the settlement are still being negotiated, but it represents a significant development in addressing the failures of the FBI in responding to abuse allegations against Nassar.
The potential settlement would provide financial compensation to victims who suffered abuse at the hands of Larry Nassar and hold the US government accountable for the FBI’s mishandling of the investigation. Despite the FBI agents involved facing consequences like being fired or retired, the lack of criminal charges has sparked criticism and calls for accountability. With the settlement nearing finalization, victims like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman may finally receive some form of justice and closure for the trauma they endured. The settlements with Michigan State University and other organizations reveal the widespread impact of Nassar’s abuse and the efforts being made to prevent similar cases in the future. The resolution of the claims against the FBI would mark an important step towards accountability and healing for the survivors of Nassar’s abuse.
