The U.S. government has reached a large-scale settlement with the victims of the doctor sexual abuse scandal that rocked the gymnastics world. This case was brought to light through an FBI investigation centered on Larry Nassar, a former national gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of athletes.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has agreed to pay a total of $138.7 million to settle the 139 lawsuits filed by Nassar’s victims. This is part of an effort to acknowledge the severity of the Nassar case and support the survivors’ healing.
Prominent athletes such as Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney are among the victims, and they have claimed that the FBI knew about Nassar’s crimes but did not take appropriate action, allowing the abuse to continue. Maroney said that she provided testimony to the FBI in 2015, but no action was taken until Nassar was indicted.
This case led to massive lawsuits against the USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee, both of which have acknowledged their neglect of Nassar’s crimes and have already paid hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements. The total settlement amount for the Nassar-related lawsuits now reaches $1 billion, which testifies to the shocking tragedy that occurred in U.S. gymnastics.
Nassar is serving a 60-year sentence for the federal offense and up to 175 years in prison for violating Michigan state law. This case highlights a serious problem within the sports industry and underscores the importance of systematic responses and preventative measures.
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