By Steve Neavling
The Justice Department has agreed to pay $100 million to victims of disgraced USA Gymnastics Team doctor Larry Nassar over the FBI’s mishandling of the case, people familiar with the settlement told The New York Times.
The settlement, which could be announced soon, would compensate about 100 victims.
The deal comes nearly three years after the DOJ’s inspector general issued a searing, 119-page report that found the bureau bungled the investigation. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said the Indianapolis Field Office “failed to respond to the Nassar allegations with the utmost seriousness and urgency that they deserved and required.”
During the investigation, which began in 2015, the bureau waited five weeks to interview one of the victims and failed to notify the FBI’s Lansing office or state law enforcement.
Following the report’s release, the FBI made no excuses for the blunders and said it “has taken affirmative steps to ensure and has confirmed that those responsible for the misconduct and breach of trust no longer work FBI matters.”
According to the report, Nassar sexually abused at least 70 young athletes between 2015 and August 2016. Nassar is effectively serving a life sentence in prison.
In May 2022, the Justice Department said it decided it won’t pursue charges against two FBI agents for mishandling the investigation.
