Raisman latest to testify in abuse case
Olympic gold medalist hopes Nassar will spend ‘a life of suffering’ in prison
Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman confronts her former doctor, who has pleaded guilty to multiple sexual assaults, warning him about the haunting testimony of the “powerful army” of survivors.
LANSING, Mich. — Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman on Friday confronted her former doctor, who has pleaded guilty to multiple sexual assaults, warning him that the testimony of the “powerful army” of 140 survivors at his sentencing will haunt him in prison.
More than 80 of the women and girls whom Larry Nassar abused under the guise of medical treatment have stood before the court during a marathon sentencing hearing that began Tuesday, describing the harm Nassar did and the impact he has had on their lives.
“You have not taken gymnastics away from me,” Raisman said. “I love this sport, and that love is stronger than the evil that resides in you, in those who enabled you to hurt many people.”
Facing pressure over how Michigan State handled allegations made against Nassar when he was employed there, the school’s board of trustees on Friday asked the state’s attorney general to investigate but stood by university president Lou Ann Simon — who is facing growing calls to resign or to be fired by the board.
“Through this terrible situation, the university has been perceived as tone deaf, unresponsive and insensitive to the victims. We understand the public’s faith has been shaken. The Board has listened and heard the victims,” chairman Brian Breslin said.
Nassar also was a team doctor at the Indianapolisbased USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.
Raisman said if just one adult had believed Nassar’s accusers and had “the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided. I and so many others would have never, ever met you. Larry, you should have been locked up a long time ago.”
Also Friday, the Walker Country Sheriff’s Department opened an investigation into the abuse cases that took place at the Karolyi Ranch in New Waverly, three television stations reported.
Doctor gets emotional
Nassar pleaded guilty to molesting girls at his university office, at home and at a Lansing-area gymnastics club, sometimes in the presence of parents, who were shielded from seeing what he was doing. Already sentenced to 60 years in prison on a separate federal child pornography conviction, the 54-year-old Nassar can expect to be behind bars for the rest of his life. Raisman hoped the testimonies of her fellow survivors will never leave him.
“All these brave women have power, and we will use our voices to make sure you get what you deserve — a life of suffering spent replaying the words delivered by this powerful army of survivors,” Raisman said.
Nassar, who has often looked down or blankly at victims giving statements, broke down when longtime family friend Trinea Gonczar spoke.
“I don’t know who you are now. Maybe I never knew. Maybe none of us did,” she said, as Nassar wiped away tears.
Under a plea deal, Nassar faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, but the judge could set it as high as 40 years.
Earlier Friday, another member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team — known as the “Fierce Five” — said she refused to let Nassar’s abuse ruin her dreams.
“Even though I’m a victim, I do not and will not live my life as one,” Jordyn Wieber said. “I’m an Olympian despite being abused. I worked hard and managed to achieve my goal.”
The university fired Nassar in 2016, as allegations against him stretching back years came to light.
“After watching many of these heartbreaking statements and reading accounts about them, we have concluded that only a review by your office can resolve the questions in a way that the victims, their families, and the public will deem satisfactory and that will help all those affected by Nassar’s horrible crimes to heal,” the university’s board said in a letter to Bill Schuette requesting the Michigan attorney general’s help.
Board supports Simon
The criminal cases against Nassar followed reports last year in the Indianapolis Star about how USA Gymnastics mishandled complaints about sexual misconduct involving the doctor and coaches. Women and girls said the stories inspired them to step forward with detailed allegations of abuse.
Many of the accusers have sued Michigan State, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The university board said as information is presented by the attorney general’s office, the board “will act. This can never happen again. … We continue to believe President Simon is the right leader for the university.”
Women’s gymnastics coach Kathie Klages resigned last year after she was suspended for defending Nassar for years. Another university doctor, Brooke Lemmen, resigned.
“I have always done my best to lead MSU and I will continue to do so today and tomorrow,” Simon said in a statement.