FBI Investigation Delay Responsibility Acknowledged
Victims of the sexual abuse scandal involving the U.S. national gymnastics team have reached a settlement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after the agency was found to have delayed its investigation, with the U.S. government agreeing to pay over 190 billion won in compensation.
FBI’s Delayed Response and Failure to Even Prepare Statements Despite Awareness of the Case... "Ignoring Testimonies Caused Pain"
On the 23rd (local time), the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had agreed to pay a total of $138.7 million (approximately 190.9 billion won) to settle 139 lawsuits filed by victims of Larry Nassar (60), the team doctor for the gymnastics team, against the FBI. The Department of Justice stated, "Nassar’s charges should have been taken seriously from the beginning," adding, "While this settlement cannot undo the harm caused by Nassar, we hope it will help provide the support necessary for the victims to continue their healing process."
Earlier, in 2022, victims including U.S. gymnastics ace Simone Biles and London Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney filed lawsuits holding the FBI responsible for failing to properly investigate Nassar’s crimes after becoming aware of them, which allowed the abuse to continue. Nassar, who served as the team doctor from 1986, repeatedly committed sexual crimes against female athletes.
However, although the FBI became aware of Nassar’s criminal acts in July 2015, the investigation was delayed, and the actual indictment did not occur until November 2016. Notably, an FBI agent who interviewed victim Maroney in early 2015 did not prepare a statement until 2017, after Nassar had been indicted. At a 2021 U.S. Senate hearing, Maroney said that while it was difficult to testify about the sexual abuse, it was even more painful that the FBI ignored her testimony.
Gymnastics Team Doctor Larry Nassar’s Total Settlement for Sexual Crime Lawsuits Reaches 1.376 Trillion Won... "A Shocking Tragedy"
Not only the FBI but also USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee faced lawsuits from over 500 victims for neglecting Nassar’s crimes, and in December 2021, they settled by agreeing to pay $380 million (approximately 522.8 billion won). Michigan State University, where Nassar worked for years and committed his crimes, also agreed to pay $500 million (approximately 688 billion won) to over 300 victims for its negligence.
Nassar is currently serving sentences of 60 years for federal crimes and up to 175 years for violations of Michigan state law, both handed down in 2018. Mick Gruel, the attorney representing 44 victims, emphasized that the total settlement amount related to Nassar’s lawsuits reaching $1 billion (approximately 1.376 trillion won) reflects "the occurrence of a shocking tragedy."
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