TRAUMA WARNING: DOJ Settles with Nassar Survivors, Concluding Final Legal Case Over FBI Misconduct
In a culmination of a two-year-long lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized an agreement on April 23 to settle with the 100 athletes who survived unspeakable abuse at the hands of the now-defamed and imprisoned former USA Gymnastics sports medicine physician, Larry Nassar, due to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) initial failings to investigate reports of criminal abuse by the doctor.
No amount of money can truly compensate for the pain and suffering endured by the athlete-survivors, a direct result of negligence and institutional betrayal by the very systems designed to safeguard them. However, the acceptance of this settlement brings a semblance of closure, marking the resolution of the last remaining legal battle against the network of institutions that failed in their response to the allegations against Nassar
At this delicate juncture, The Army of Survivors (TAOS) stands in solidarity with the athlete-survivors who have persisted in bravely sharing their stories to create enduring change. Their unwavering voices have been pivotal in shedding light on systemic failures and have spurred a movement demanding accountability and reform. After the announcement of the settlement, TAOS Co-Founder and President Grace French said, “This settlement marks not just a chapter’s close, but the start of a new narrative in sports—one where the voices of survivors catalyze the transformation towards an era of transparency, accountability, and safety for all athletes.”
