Larry Nassar

[maize]

I'm shocked at the sheer number of victims.

 

How did this take so long to come out?

[Catwoman]

I was thinking the same thing! It’s terrifying!!!

Edited January 24, 2018 by Catwoman

[dirty ethel rackham]

Age of the victims.  Gaslighting.  Cover up on almost all levels.  I think it took the child porn charges to give any traction to the accusations against him.  The people claiming that his "treatment" was a standard medical treatment are just as culpable in my opinion.  There are very few reasons to perform a digital examination of the vagina, none for ungloved, and certainly not for "back pain."  I am disgusted.  But, as someone who has not been believed when complaining to medical professionals, and been belittled for my complaints, I am unfortunately not surprised.  

[Amira]

NDAs are also very effective at keeping people from speaking up.

[ErinE]

Why did it take so long to come out? Because it was a national organization made up of people who worried more about their reputation than the children being abused. I’ve seen it on a personal level. What if others find out? What will friends say? Things need to change. Silence = consent

 

ETA: I exclude victims from my statement above. No one should be required to speak out about their abuse. But others around the victim encourage silence which only leads to more abuse.

Edited January 24, 2018 by ErinE

[AmandaVT]

Many of the victims did come out, some of them years ago. They were silenced. It's so sad and hits so close to home for me because I coached gymnastics for 8 years. 

[plansrme]

Having had a competitive gymnast (through level 10, but definitely not at the elite level), I am kind of not surprised.  Gymnastics coaches the world over have contributed to this with a LOT of behaviors that I saw even at my daughter's level.  Parents also have contributed by agreeing to what I saw, even at the time, as potentially dangerous practices.  For example (and I could give dozens):

 

1.  I called my kid off of the floor from once, about 10 minutes before practice was over;  I was in a huge hurry, and they were just playing games.  The coach called her back, talked to her and would not let her leave.  I told my kid and the coach later that the coach should NEVER overrule a parent.  If he didn't like what I did, he needed to talk to me afterwards, not EVER put a kid in the position of having to disobey the parent in favor of the coach.  That creates a hugely unhealthy dynamic for both of them.  I could give example after example of this.

 

2.  I know coaches who convince the gymnast that the coach is the one who has her back, who wants her to succeed, not the parents.  And gymnasts want to succeed more than anything.  When the gymnast (any athlete, really) learns that the coach wants what is good for the coach, and the parents are the only ones who really want what is best for the gymnast, it can be crushing but, also, liberating, for the athlete.

 

3.  Parents turn a blind eye to all kinds of behaviors that should raise red flags, not just about sexual abuse but about other kinds of inappropriate behavior.  I do NOT think gymnastics is chock full of sexual predators, but there are plenty of behaviors carried on by coaches that are not appropriate or are harmful to the athlete, and parents just sit back and take it because they and their kid want to succeed.  Parents need to be in the gym, and they need to be visible, and any gym that discourages or forbids parents from watching practices (oh, yes, they do) needs to, instead, throw open the doors and welcome parents with open arms.

 

4.  Gymnasts think of themselves, first, as gymnasts.  It is a very hard sport to leave, and anyone who offers up hope that the gymnast can continue in the sport or on the trajectory that she wants is easy to believe.  Similarly, anyone who can stop your trajectory is to be feared.  I don't know what to do about that, maybe nothing, but it helps explain why so many gymnasts and parents didn't want to see or speak up about what was happening.  There is one path to gymnastics royalty in the U.S., and it is through USAG, which reaches all the way down into the ranks of baby gymnasts.  If you upset USAG when you're 10, you're done.  You're not getting invited to their camps; you're not making elite; if you were elite already, you're not making the national team; you're basically done.  

 

I have a love/hate relationship with gymnastics now that we're out of it; I love what it did for my daughter--the lessons and habits she learned as a gymnast have served her well, but it could so easily--very, very easily--have turned out differently.

 

[dirty ethel rackham]

Many of the victims did come out, some of them years ago. They were silenced. It's so sad and hits so close to home for me because I coached gymnastics for 8 years.

Exactly. They were told that the "treatment" was normal. That this doctor could he trusted. They were taught to doubt their own interpretation of events.

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[Lanny]

I know someone whose younger daughter is an MSU student. They live near there. The Mother wrote me that some of her friends daughters were patients of his, but, fortunately, were not molested.  I cannot write here on WTM the punishment I would like him to receive.

 

The NCAA will (hopefully) investigate MSU. Who knew what and when did they know it?

 

I hope the State and Federal Criminal Justice systems will do the same.

[eternalsummer]

I'm still mulling this, but I think there is a level of not wanting to talk about sex, sex ed, and women's sexual health that contributes. These girls were so young, and most of them probably didn't have the vocabulary or even mental concepts to think about whether what they were being told made sense. The classic "inappropriate touch" rule is that no one should touch you where your swimsuit covers except your doctor. That doesn't work when the molestor is the doctor. And since women don't talk a lot about what happens in private medical exams the girls had no way of knowing that what was happening to them wasn't a normal part of seeing a doctor. Not that I'm suggesting everyone describe the specifics of their last pelvic exam at the neighborhood picnic, but I think that bad actors can get away with a lot when they control their patients' frame of reference.

 

 

I would agree with this, except many of them talked.  Two 16 year olds reported him in the late 90s.  TWENTY YEARS AGO.  I

 

For me, what was as bad to read was that the coaches often played bad cop good cop - the coach was the bad cop and Nassar was the good cop (as little sense as that makes).  If you've separated a young girl from her parents and set up her social environment so that the only trusted adults are two males, both of whom make their living working almost exclusively or exclusively with young girls, the stage is set for abuse.  When those two men decide to be abusive - one sexually, one emotionally/verbally - there's no one for the girl to turn to.

 

And when she does turn to someone, as many of them did throughout the years, it comes to naught.

 

 

I dunno, I was in gymnastics as a kid until about level 5, and while there were male coaches the primary coach was always a woman, and there were always adult women around.  I'm not saying this would always prevent bad things from happening, but when a pelvic exam for an adult woman requires a female nurse in the room, why do we let young girls be coached and "doctored" exclusively by men?   My girls are both in gymnastics now - recreationally - and they have, over the course of 3 gyms, only had female coaches.  The day a male coach is the primary coach and the only option is the day they quit.

[plansrme]

I'm still mulling this, but I think there is a level of not wanting to talk about sex, sex ed, and women's sexual health that contributes. These girls were so young, and most of them probably didn't have the vocabulary or even mental concepts to think about whether what they were being told made sense. The classic "inappropriate touch" rule is that no one should touch you where your swimsuit covers except your doctor. That doesn't work when the molestor is the doctor. And since women don't talk a lot about what happens in private medical exams the girls had no way of knowing that what was happening to them wasn't a normal part of seeing a doctor. Not that I'm suggesting everyone describe the specifics of their last pelvic exam at the neighborhood picnic, but I think that bad actors can get away with a lot when they control their patients' frame of reference.

 

This also is an excellent example of how USAG could have done better and how the parents should have been there.  USAG invites these elite and elite-track girls to their camps at the Ranch and elsewhere, where they are isolated from their parents--there are obviously no parents at TOPS Camp or National Team or Developmental Camp.  What parent sends her ten-year old to receive medical treatment without the parent present unless it is at one of these camps when the parent is 500 miles away?  USAG needs to shut down any camp that doesn't permit parents on the premises at all times.  As a parent, of course I don't want to be (and wouldn't be) at the gym every time my kid is there, but I would never send my kid somewhere that parents were not welcome as observers.

[AmandaVT]

He just got sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. 

 

"I just signed your death warrant," says the judge. "You don't deserve to walk outside our prison system again."

 

 

[umsami]

He just got sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. 

 

"I just signed your death warrant," says the judge. "You don't deserve to walk outside our prison system again."

 

I love this judge. 

[Lostinabook]

Rachael Denhollander's victim impact statement. She is a lawyer and sounds almost prosecutorial as she goes through why this went on for so long. She excoriates MSU.

 

edited to add link to the statement

Edited January 24, 2018 by Lostinabook

[Lostinabook]

Oh, and if you listen to all the closing statements, the prosecutor talked about how there are *still* people in the community who think he's innocent, who think he was set up re: the child porn charges. The judge's closing statement was super long, but you should at least listen to the excerpts she read from Nassar's letter.  They are appalling and in direct opposition to the assurances from his attorney that "Larry feels sorry for what he's done" and to Nassar's "apology"/statement.

[ErinE]

Wow -

 

In his letter to the judge explaining why all the women were accusing him:

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

 

He'll find out, won't he?

Edited January 24, 2018 by ErinE

[gardenmom5]

what's really disgusting is USAgymnastics was covering for him. (several have resigned - they should be investigated and charged as accomplishes)  they ordered the girls to keep quiet, and made them sign NDAs.

 

I think they should put him in general population- and play the girls' testimonies on a loop in his cell.

 

I think the judge was great when she pounced on his whining about how painful it was for him to listen to their testimony.  no sympathy

[gardenmom5]

He just got sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. 

 

"I just signed your death warrant," says the judge. "You don't deserve to walk outside our prison system again."

 

 

 

well - I wonder, . . . will he do an ariel castro and hang himself after three months - or will another prisoner off him?  (most loath pedophiles)

 

while he's very sleezy/creepy - he also comes across as very weak.  

[gardenmom5]

This also is an excellent example of how USAG could have done better and how the parents should have been there.  USAG invites these elite and elite-track girls to their camps at the Ranch and elsewhere, where they are isolated from their parents--there are obviously no parents at TOPS Camp or National Team or Developmental Camp.  What parent sends her ten-year old to receive medical treatment without the parent present unless it is at one of these camps when the parent is 500 miles away?  USAG needs to shut down any camp that doesn't permit parents on the premises at all times.  As a parent, of course I don't want to be (and wouldn't be) at the gym every time my kid is there, but I would never send my kid somewhere that parents were not welcome as observers.

 

some of the girls said he abused them with other people in the room.

[Liz CA]

Do you guys think the Karolyis were aware of this?

I have not read all the articles but I am so glad the girls/women raised their voices and this finally went to court, albeit only after so many had to suffer. The judge must have been livid to have said this from the bench.

 

 

This has a lot of details:  

Edited January 25, 2018 by Liz CA

[gardenmom5]

The sheer number of complicit people puts this on a level with Penn State. Gross.

 

I think it is worse for the sheer number of victims.   and it is disgusting.

 

Having had a competitive gymnast (through level 10, but definitely not at the elite level), I am kind of not surprised.  Gymnastics coaches the world over have contributed to this with a LOT of behaviors that I saw even at my daughter's level.  Parents also have contributed by agreeing to what I saw, even at the time, as potentially dangerous practices.  For example (and I could give dozens):

 

 

I remember the gymnastics with the little girl who injured her ankle at the olympics - but was coerced into performing on the vault.  her ankle snapped - but hey, she performed just like they wanted her to!   it's not worth it - they're children - but either the parents want that glory too (I know some of that personality), or are too intimidated to speak out and protect their child.  or too trusting to believe what they're told.

[eternalsummer]

Do you guys think the Karolyi's were aware of this?

I have not read all the articles but I am so glad the girls/women raised their voices and this finally went to court, albeit only after so many had to suffer. The judge must have been livid to have said this from the bench.

 

Were they aware of specifically what he was doing?  Probably not, but hard to say.  I don't see why they would have kept him on if they knew exactly what was going on, it would have been a massive liability.  But then again, many people were told exactly what he was doing and kept him on anyway, calling the girls variations of hysterical.

 

However, the abusive  (emotionally, verbally, to some degree physically) behavior of the coaches in gymnastics is widely known, practiced, and sanctioned, certainly by the Karolyis.  Making a girl so afraid of you that the "dcotor" who is sexually assaulting her on a weekly basis is the good guy, in her mind, is horrifically abusive.

 

 

Honestly, if I were running the show at USAG, I'd clean house. Not just 2 or 3 or 4 people, but everyone who had been told and did nothing, and everyone who treats their gymnasts like shit.  I'd make a massive campaign to communicate to parents and gymnasts what is and isn't acceptable in gymnastics coaching and physical therapy.  I don't particularly care if you can't get the absolute best result out of young athletes if you don't berate them and overwork them and abuse them; you can't get the absolute best result without drugging them, either, and we don't allow drugging them.

[maize]

I think what is weighing in me is the thought that if a man can get away with abusing hundreds of victims over several decades, how much easier must it be to get away with abusing just a handful?

 

And just how many of these perpetrators could be out there?

Edited January 24, 2018 by maize

[Lostinabook]

Couple of links:

 

Here's Rachel Denhollander speaking a month ago--much of it about USAG.

 

Here's an article which addresses some of the reasons why it took so long to stop Nassar. There are also links to many previous articles.

 

some of the girls said he abused them with other people in the room.

 

Yep. He'd hold his body so that the parent couldn't see what he was doing. In at least one instance when a girl complained to authorities (can't remember if it was police or coaches?), she was told she didn't understand the subtle differences between abuse and treatment.

[Sneezyone]

I would agree with this, except many of them talked.  Two 16 year olds reported him in the late 90s.  TWENTY YEARS AGO.  I

 

For me, what was as bad to read was that the coaches often played bad cop good cop - the coach was the bad cop and Nassar was the good cop (as little sense as that makes).  If you've separated a young girl from her parents and set up her social environment so that the only trusted adults are two males, both of whom make their living working almost exclusively or exclusively with young girls, the stage is set for abuse.  When those two men decide to be abusive - one sexually, one emotionally/verbally - there's no one for the girl to turn to.

 

And when she does turn to someone, as many of them did throughout the years, it comes to naught.

 

 

I dunno, I was in gymnastics as a kid until about level 5, and while there were male coaches the primary coach was always a woman, and there were always adult women around.  I'm not saying this would always prevent bad things from happening, but when a pelvic exam for an adult woman requires a female nurse in the room, why do we let young girls be coached and "doctored" exclusively by men?   My girls are both in gymnastics now - recreationally - and they have, over the course of 3 gyms, only had female coaches.  The day a male coach is the primary coach and the only option is the day they quit.

 

The separation of the kids from the parents for long stretches is the part that has always bothered me about elite gymnastics. DD competed through level 7 and there is a newly minted junior elite at her old (very small) gym who is on the national team. The time they spend going to and from the middle of nowhere, TX is mind-boggling, all of it without parental supervision.

[Sneezyone]

some of the girls said he abused them with other people in the room.

 

The grooming damage was already done tho. Especially in gym, athletes are conditioned to put the coaches' advice and guidance above that of their parents.

[gardenmom5]

Do you guys think the Karolyi's were aware of this?

I have not read all the articles but I am so glad the girls/women raised their voices and this finally went to court, albeit only after so many had to suffer. The judge must have been livid to have said this from the bench.

 

 

This has a lot of details:  

 

 

No idea.

 

one coach didn't know, and was so livid in court, and attempting to protect/defend  one of the girls - the judge told him to speak during the victim impact statement phase.  He'd sent so many girls to this creep - he felt utterly sick about it, because he didn't know.

 

I wondered if they locked that coach in a room with nassar -if nassar would be recognizable when he came out . . . well, assuming he came out under his own power and not on a gurney.  in a body bag.

[Lady Florida.]

Many of the victims did come out, some of them years ago. They were silenced.

 

In some cases by their own parents, who didn't believe them.

[Southern Ivy]

The scumbag was sentenced. 

I hope jail is awful for him, because he doesn't deserve anything cushy. 


 

[Liz CA]

The judge is quoted here saying this:     https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/us/judge-rosemarie-aquilina-full-statement/index.html

 

"It is my privilege -- on counts 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 and 18 and 24 -- to sentence you to 40 years.

 

'm going to look at my cheat sheet: 40 years, just so you know and you can count it off your calendar, is 480 months.

The tail end -- because I need to send a message to the parole board in the event somehow God is gracious and I know he is -- and you survive the 60 years in federal court first and then you start on my 40 years. You've gone off the page here as to what I'm doing. My page only goes to 100 years.

Sir, I'm giving you 175 years, which is 2100 months.

I've just signed your death warrant."

 

[AmandaVT]

In some cases by their own parents, who didn't believe them.

 

Exactly. And one of the fathers who was told ended up killing himself over the guilt after he realized his daughter was telling the truth the whole time. Nassar is a disgusting human being who manipulated and ingratiated himself with people to the point that after the first victims started speaking up publicly, almost everyone defended Nassar, even people who later came out as victims. I've never seen anything like it. I'm so thankful to Indy Star for sticking to the story. 

 

I'm glad they're finally moving the training facility for the National team. I think it should eventually end up with the men's training facility at the US Olympic training center in CO. There's no reason to be isolated from the world at these camps. In the gymnastics community, they've long been called "death camps" because gymnasts were always overtrained and underfed there. They were not allowed to contact their family or personal coaches for a long time while at camp or competitions, though I think those draconian rules have finally relaxed a smidge in more recent years. 

 

I also think Valeri Liukin should be rethought as the new head of Womens' Gymnastics. He's also an abusive coach. There are a few coaches who coach their gymnasts hard and get them ready for the highest levels of competition, while still keeping a healthy training environment. Kelly Hill and Aimee Boorman are two examples that stand out.

[gardenmom5]

The scumbag was sentenced. 

 

I hope jail is awful for him, because he doesn't deserve anything cushy. 

 

 

 

 

he comes across as a totay wuss.  we'll see if he lasts as long as ariel castro.  (I think he hung himself after three months.)

 

 

The judge is quoted here saying this:     https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/us/judge-rosemarie-aquilina-full-statement/index.html

 

"It is my privilege -- on counts 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 and 18 and 24 -- to sentence you to 40 years.

 

'm going to look at my cheat sheet: 40 years, just so you know and you can count it off your calendar, is 480 months.

The tail end -- because I need to send a message to the parole board in the event somehow God is gracious and I know he is -- and you survive the 60 years in federal court first and then you start on my 40 years. You've gone off the page here as to what I'm doing. My page only goes to 100 years.

Sir, I'm giving you 175 years, which is 2100 months.

I've just signed your death warrant."

 

 

I love this judge

[poppy]

I love the judge.

 

Don't hate me, but, Nassar -- who is scum bucket of the lowest order -- should probably spend his life in protective custody.  He's not just a pedophile, he abused girls that people kinda know. 

[plansrme]

 

I'm glad they're finally moving the training facility for the National team. I think it should eventually end up with the men's training facility at the US Olympic training center in CO. There's no reason to be isolated from the world at these camps. In the gymnastics community, they've long been called "death camps" because gymnasts were always overtrained and underfed there. They were not allowed to contact their family or personal coaches for a long time while at camp or competitions, though I think those draconian rules have finally relaxed a smidge in more recent years.

 

I also think Valeri Liukin should be rethought as the new head of Womens' Gymnastics. He's also an abusive coach. There are a few coaches who coach their gymnasts hard and get them ready for the highest levels of competition, while still keeping a healthy training environment. Kelly Hill and Aimee Boorman are two examples that stand out.

When we toured the OTC a few years ago, the guide brought this up and said that the female gymnasts did not train there because they were too young. Oh, the irony, but—it was a USOC rule, at the time anyway. I completely agree that USAG’s power should be stripped to the bare minimum. Have an Olympic qualifying meet, take the top 4, and skip all this nonsense about TOPS and developmental camp and national camp. It is not a team sport; there is no need to have a team anything. Just let the girls be coached by their personal coaches, and everyone else, get the heck out of the way.

[Sneezyone]

Exactly. And one of the fathers who was told ended up killing himself over the guilt after he realized his daughter was telling the truth the whole time. Nassar is a disgusting human being who manipulated and ingratiated himself with people to the point that after the first victims started speaking up publicly, almost everyone defended Nassar, even people who later came out as victims. I've never seen anything like it. I'm so thankful to Indy Star for sticking to the story.

 

I'm glad they're finally moving the training facility for the National team. I think it should eventually end up with the men's training facility at the US Olympic training center in CO. There's no reason to be isolated from the world at these camps. In the gymnastics community, they've long been called "death camps" because gymnasts were always overtrained and underfed there. They were not allowed to contact their family or personal coaches for a long time while at camp or competitions, though I think those draconian rules have finally relaxed a smidge in more recent years.

 

I also think Valeri Liukin should be rethought as the new head of Womens' Gymnastics. He's also an abusive coach. There are a few coaches who coach their gymnasts hard and get them ready for the highest levels of competition, while still keeping a healthy training environment. Kelly Hill and Aimee Boorman are two examples that stand out.

The coaching at HITs in Hawaii was similarly supportive. The head coach there left elite coaching years ago but the instruction is strong as ever. You don’t have to break kids down to build them up. The gymnast they sent to San Mateo last year is now an elite but without all the emotional baggage of so many others. I could not agree more about the national team training center tho. There are coaches that are doing right by these super talented kids. Promote/advance them, cull the abusive herd, and let them stay with their gymnasts! Edited January 24, 2018 by Sneezyone

[Sneezyone]

When we toured the OTC a few years ago, the guide brought this up and said that the female gymnasts did not train there because they were too young. Oh, the irony, but—it was a USOC rule, at the time anyway. I completely agree that USAG’s power should be stripped to the bare minimum. Have an Olympic qualifying meet, take the top 4, and skip all this nonsense about TOPS and developmental camp and national camp. It is not a team sport; there is no need to have a team anything. Just let the girls be coached by their personal coaches, and everyone else, get the heck out of the way.

Hmmm, not so sure. The comeraderie and relationships they develop at the camps is valuable, imo. Like it or not, there is a team competition and it does matter. I always thought gym, like track/swimming with relays, is the best of both worlds, shine as an individual AND contribute to something bigger than yourself.

Edited January 24, 2018 by Sneezyone

[momacacia]

And reading the parent's perspective of how they missed the red flags. This guy's name will be the only 2 words I need to say now when a doctor wants me to leave my child alone in a room with them. 😒

[vonfirmath]

Reading all of these makes me think back to the book I read about Simone Biles. About how she wanted to go home and her parents encouraged her to stay. And I wonder if the stuff with Nassar was part of why she wanted to go home? Of course in the book, she was happy she perservered, etc... But I'll never be able to read them they same.

 

[plansrme]

Hmmm, not so sure. The comeraderie and relationships they develop at the camps is valuable, imo. Like it or not, there is a team competition and it does matter. I always thought gym, like track/swimming with relays, is the best of both worlds, shine and as individual AND contribute to something bigger than yourself.

Valuable to whom? USAG? Who cares. The girls who are in constant competition with each other in a highly subjective sport? Not buying it. Also, track and swim do not have the camps USAG does. They have Olympic trials, and the winners go to the Olympics. End of story. Well, mostly, but they do not have weeks of daily head to head competition to see who makes the national teams.

Edited January 24, 2018 by plansrme

[Sneezyone]

Valuable to whom? USAG? Who cares. The girls who are in constant competition with each other in a highly subjective sport? Not buying it.

Valuable to the girls too. I don’t know about the gym your daughter trained in but in HI the gymnastics family/community was a real family and the girls rooted for and supported one another. I realize that kind of environment isn’t the norm in high-level gymnastics but it absolutely can/should be and seeing a gymnast who comes from that backrounf be successful is a wonderful thing. There will always be divas but you can’t have a successful sport (with tons of fans) with nothing but divas. I can’t help but think that hyper competitive stay at all costs attitude led a lot of girls to put up with more than they otherwise would. Track and swimming athletes have also not had the team/relay success that gym has. I grew up with track and know, at least for that sport, having relationships and knowing the rhythms if your mates is part of the recipe for team success.

Edited January 24, 2018 by Sneezyone

[plansrme]

Valuable to the girls too. I don’t know about the gym your daughter trained in but it HI the gym family was a real family and the girls rooted for and supported one another. I realize that kind of environment isn’t the norm in high-level gymnastics but it absolutely can/should be and seeing a gymnast who comes from that backrounf be successful is a wonderful thing. There will always be divas but you can’t have a successful sport (with tons of fans) with nothing but divas.

But that camaraderie comes from her home gym, not the other girls in competition with her for a spot on the national team. Every one of these girls has a home gym and a primary coach to provide emotional support.

[Sneezyone]

But that camaraderie comes from her home gym, not the other girls in competition with her for a spot on the national team. Every one of these girls has a home gym and a primary coach to provide emotional support.

Yes and no. That home gym support is not there at the big national/international meets. The people who are there are other elites. ETA: I say yes because HI travels. 😂

Edited January 24, 2018 by Sneezyone

[poppy]

Reading all of these makes me think back to the book I read about Simone Biles. About how she wanted to go home and her parents encouraged her to stay. And I wonder if the stuff with Nassar was part of why she wanted to go home? Of course in the book, she was happy she perservered, etc... But I'll never be able to read them they same.

 

Oh that's terrible. 

 

[eternalsummer]

He can appeal all he likes, I'm pretty sure he pleaded to 40 years, which when added to the 60 years he already has and his age means he definitely has no chance of ever getting out of prison.

 

The 175 thing was just optics.

[eternalsummer]

Yes, he had the child porn.  I've read that that was what finally convinced a lot of people who'd defended him.

[Guest]

How did the porn charges come about? I’m not 100% current with this story.

[solascriptura]

The whole situation just makes me sick.  How many millions if not billions of people have watched these girls in the Olympics marveling at their talent, dedication and accomplishments?  To think that they accomplished all of that while suffering through such emotional and physical distress.  It just makes me entirely sick.   While I still have some control over their lives, I will never let my kids live under another person's supervision like that.  

[Laura Corin]

And reading the parent's perspective of how they missed the red flags. This guy's name will be the only 2 words I need to say now when a doctor wants me to leave my child alone in a room with them. 😒

In at least one case, the mother was in the room but the athlete's lower body was covered with a sheet so the mother couldn't see what was happening.

[ErinE]

How did the porn charges come about? I’m not 100% current with this story.

 

A link to the timeline.

 

In a federal case, he was investigated and the porn found. He plead guilty.

 

In the state case, a gymnast filed a police report against Nassar. He plead guilty to seven counts of first degree s*xual misconduct to avoid a trial (according to his letter to the judge). The testimonies from the many, many women were part of his sentencing.

Edited January 25, 2018 by ErinE

[debinindy]

Watch Rachael Denhollander's victim impact statement. She is a lawyer and sounds almost prosecutorial as she goes through why this went on for so long. She excoriates MSU.

 

edited to add link to the statement

 

Wow!

 

Such a brave, brave woman.  

 

Also, how brave of all the survivors to speak out!