Nassar Gets 40 to 175 Years in Prison

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Larry Nassar, former team doctor for USA Gymnastics, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison today, for sexually abusing more than 150 women and girls over a period of two decades.  Nassar had pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct and admitted to using his position as team doctor to assault his victims under the guise of necessary medical treatment.

One hundred and fifty-six of his victims spoke in the court proceeding recounting their stories of abuse.  At one point Nassar asked the judge to discontinue the statements, saying it was too hard for him to listen to.  He said the judge had turned the proceeding into a “media circus.”  The judge refused Nassar’s request.

A number of Nasser’s victims have accused the organizations that employed him, USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Michigan State University of turning a blind eye to Nassar’s behavior for more than two decades.

All three institutions have denied any wrongdoing and said they reported the behavior as soon as they learned of it.  But in recent days all three have taken steps to manage the fallout of Nassar’s crimes.

Michigan State University has asked the state attorney general to investigate its response, three members of the board of USA Gymnastics have stepped down and the U.S. Olympic Committee issued a statement apologizing for its lack of response.

“The Olympic family is among those that have failed you,” the statement read.

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