Larry Nassar Was Sentenced. What Happens Next?
On Wednesday, Larry Nassar — the former doctor for the American gymnastics team — was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for multiple sex crimes. The sentencing took a grueling seven-days and drew more than 150 young women to speak publicly about the abuse they suffered at his hands. Nassar was accused of molesting girls, some as young as six years old, under the guise that he was giving them medical treatment and examinations. While the sentencing ended with Judge Rosemarie Aquilina signing Nassar’s “death warrant” (her words, not ours!), the ramifications of this case are far from over. Here, a list of everything that’s happened in the wake of Nassar’s sentencing. We will continue to update this post with further developments.
The Olympic Committee Gave USA Gymnastics Board Six Days to Resign
Scott Blackmun, The US Olympic Committee’s CEO, has asked the USA Gymnastics board of directors to resign in the next six days. Blackmun declared that USAG will lose its status as a governing sports body if they do not meet his demands and name an interim board by February 28. Additionally, he has given USAG twelve months to replace the interim board. Other requirements include cooperating with an independent investigation into the abuse, and implementing ways to stop abuse, based on a former prosecutor’s report highlighting USAG’s shortcomings in combating mistreatment. Earlier this week, USA Gymnastics issued a statement in support of the Olympic Committee saying, “USA Gymnastics and the USOC have the same goal – making the sport of gymnastics, and others, as safe as possible for athletes to follow their dreams in a safe, positive and empowered environment.”
MSU Failed to Turn Over Documents Outlining Nassar’s Sexual Assault
A new report by ESPN alleges that MSU failed to turn over documents outlining accusations of sexual assault against Nassar to federal Title IX investigators — despite an ongoing investigation by the campus police, occurring at the time.
The President of Michigan State University Resigned
In addition to Nassar’s work for USA Gymnastics, he also worked at Michigan State University from 1997 — 2016. On Wednesday evening, the University’s president, Lou Anna Simon, stepped down from her post after the state’s US Senators, the state’s House of Representatives, and the University’s newspaper all called for her to resign. In a statement, Simon declared, “To the survivors, I can never say enough that I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment… As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger.” As of now, it remains unclear how long Simon will remain in her position.
Two Senators Are Demanding Answers from USA Gymnastics
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who are both in charge of a subcommittee overseeing consumer protection, signed a letter sent to USA Gymnastics CEO calling for more information about the “systemic failures” regarding Nassar’s abuse. They’ve also called on the U.S. Olympic Committee and Michigan State for a deeper look at their policies on reporting sexual assault.
Gymanstics Coach John Geddert is Accused of Further Abuse
Coach John Geddert — owner of Twistars, another gym that Nassar worked at— is once again accused of abuse. Earlier this week, Geddert was suspended by USA gymnastics and on Tuesday he sent a letter to his clients at Twistars announcing his retirement. On Wednesday, in a news conference in Lansing, Michigan, Lindsay Lemke alleged that Geddert was “abusive… [and] deserves to be in jail with Larry.” Other survivors also alleged abuse against Gedder during the trial, claiming that he’d physically abuse them and then push them to seek treatment from his dear friend, Nassar. As of Thursday afternoon, Geddert has officially been removed from the Twistars website, and his wife is now listed as its owner.
Nassar Still Faces a Third Sentencing
He will be sentenced in Easton County, MI for molesting an additional three minors. The plea agreement calls for a minimum of 25 — to 40 years in prison. Victims will also be allowed to testify there, though it’s believed less will speak than at this week’s trial.
And What About Those Civil Lawsuits?
More than 150 lawsuits have been filed by Nassar’s accusers in federal courts in Michigan, and state court in California, and are still pending. These civil law suits allege that the institutions and people that were responsible for protecting Nassar’s patients, failed. One of the prominent civil suits comes from Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, who was purportedly paid $1.25 million dollars in a settlement not to discuss her sexual abuse allegations.