Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Trial

Overview

Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Trial refers to the legal trial and sentencing of Larry Nassar, a former Team USA olympic gymnastics doctor and medical professional at Michigan State University who had been accused by over 150 women, including olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas, of sexually abusing them under the guise of medical care. Nassar was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, whose strongly worded comments at the sentencing led to some controversy, as some felt her comments betrayed a lack of impartiality ill-befitting of a judge.

Background

The story of sexual abuse in Team USA olympic gymnastics was first reported by IndyStar in August of 2016.^[1] Specifically, Team USA routinely turned a blind eye to reports of sexual abuse, dismissing them as hearsay unless they came from a victim or a victim's parent, facilitating abusers to continue getting away with their crime. Nassar was accused of sexual abuse the following month in IndyStar^[2] by Rachel Denhollander and other anonymous women. According to their statements, Nassar would fondle them and talk about oral sex during examinations. In November of 2017, Nassar pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual abuse at the Twistars gymnastics club, which was headed by former U.S. national team coach John Geddert.^[4] In December of 2017, Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in prison in an unrelated, child pornography case.^[3]

Developments

In October of 2017, olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney came forth on Twitter accusing Nassar of sexual abuse.^[5] Other olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles followed. The trial began in January of 2018. It lasted for seven days and featured testimonies from several women. Early in the trial, Nassar wrote a letter to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina saying that listening to all the testimonies would be too mentally taxing, which Aquilina dismissed as "mumbo jumbo."^[6] Raisman testified the next day in court with a particularly pointed testimony which was severe towards Nassar and also the USA Gymnastics and US Olympics Committees for their enabling of Nassar. On January 24th, 2018, Nassar was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina Comments

At the sentencing of Nassar, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina had harsh and pointed words for Nassar. Notably, she read to the court a letter Nassar had written two months after agreeing to plead guilty in which he came off as defiant, innocent and a victim of sensationalized media, including the line "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," which drew audible gasps from the courtroom.^[7] Aquilina then threw the letter to the floor (shown below).

At the sentencing, Aquilina said:

“I find that you don’t get it, that you’re a danger… (Your actions were) precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable… It was my honor and privilege to hear these survivors. It’s my honor to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison again… I just signed your death warrant."

Aquilina's words proved controversial. Some celebrated the conviction with which Aquilina spoke on behalf of the victims. The New York Times^[9] labeled Aquilina an advocate for sexual abuse victims and profiled her. Glamour^[10] chronicled what they considered her "most powerful quotes." Meanwhile, others felt the comments betrayed her impartiality as a judge, fundamentally undermining the impartiality that is supposed to be present in an American court room. Writing in the New Republic,^[8] Andrew Cohen said that Aquilina had "abdicated her role as an impartial arbiter and became instead a tribune for prosecutors and the victims" with her actions and words. The Washington Post^[11] also went into the controversy, citing both critics and defenders of Aquilina alike. They quote former federal judge Paul G. Cassell, who said that there was a difference between the sentencing and trial, and that Aquilina was expressing what 99 out of 100 people would say.

Search Interest

External References

^[1] IndyStar – A blind eye to sex abuse: How USA Gymnastics failed to report cases

^[2] IndyStar – Former USA Gymnastics doctor accused of abuse

^[3] Lansing State Journal – Larry Nassar sentenced to 60 years in federal child pornography case

^[4] Detroit News – USA Gymnastics suspends ex-coach Geddert

^[5] People – PEOPLE Explains: Everything to Know About Ex-Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar's Sex Abuse Case

^[6] Deadspin – Larry Nassar In Letter To Judge: Listening To Victims' Statements In Court Is Too Mentally Taxing

^[7] Deadspin – Judge Reads Batshit Victim-Blaming Letter From Larry Nassar, Where He Wrote Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned

^[8] New Republic – Judging Larry Nassar

^[9] Victims in Larry Nassar Abuse Case Find a Fierce Advocate: The Judge – The New York Times

^[10] Judge Rosemarie Aquilina: 10 Most Powerflu Quotes During Nassar Hearings | Glamour

^[11] Gymnastics victims’ champion or avenger? Nassar judge Rosemarie Aquilina stirs controversy. – The Washington Post