U.S. Justice Department to Pay $100 Million in Nassar Sexual Assault Settlement

The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement to pay approximately $100 million to about 100 people who were sexually assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar. An anonymous source with direct knowledge of the negotiations revealed this information to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The deal has not been finalized, and no money has been paid yet, as per the source.

An internal investigation discovered that FBI agents mishandled abuse allegations by women more than a year before Nassar's arrest in 2016. The mishandling occurred in a 15-month period when FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles were aware of the allegations but did not take action. The settlement, initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, was confirmed by the Justice Department spokesperson, who declined to provide further comments.

Nassar's History and Victims

Larry Nassar, a former Michigan State University sports doctor and a doctor at USA Gymnastics, is currently serving multiple decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including Olympic medalists, under the guise of treatment. The survivors of Nassar's assaults include renowned Olympians Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney. FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized to the survivors at a Senate hearing in 2021, acknowledging the failure of the FBI to stop Nassar in 2015. He expressed his regret, stating, "I'm sorry that so many different people let you down, over and over again."

The Michigan attorney general's office handled the assault charges against Nassar, while federal prosecutors in western Michigan filed a child sex abuse images case against him. Michigan State University, accused of missing opportunities to stop Nassar over the years, agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted. Additionally, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement.