1 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. I'm Jay Harris, 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: your faithful host in Barista, always committed to serving up 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: in depth scandalous stories that truly matter. I'm a veteran 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: ESPN sportscaster, but it can be tough even for me 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: to swallow some of the tales from the dark side 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: of sports. Last week I'm Playing Dirty, I poured part 7 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: one of a stomach turning cocktail featuring Larry Nasser, the 8 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: doctor of sports medicine who abused his respected position at 9 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: several institutions by sexually assaulting hundreds of young female athletes. Ultimately, 10 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: Larry received an historic sentence of up to one hundred 11 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: and seventy five years in jail for his heinous crimes. Today, 12 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 1: we're going to pick up at that pivotal moment, reviewing 13 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: how Larry nasser Is appalling actions were systematically and outrageously 14 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: overlooked until his victims bravely took matters into their own hands. 15 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: These women, who had had their trust abused and in 16 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: many cases, their lives destroyed because of Larry Naster's assaults, 17 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: stood up one by one, addressing him face to face 18 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: in a lengthy four day sentencing hearing. You might remember 19 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: from last week's episode that Larry had the gall to 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: complain to Judge rose Marie Aquillina that he doubted his 21 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: ability to mentally endure hearing his victim's impact statements. She 22 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: shut down his whimper point blank, stating, you spent thousands 23 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 1: of hours perpetrating sexual assault on miners and asserting that 24 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: he should and would be capable of withstanding a few 25 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: days of listening to the women he had harmed so terribly, 26 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: and so he did. Dressed in a faded blue jail 27 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: jumpsuit and orange crocs, Larry Naster was confronted by his 28 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: young victims. So many came forward that ultimately his four 29 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: day sentencing was extended to seven days to give each 30 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: young woman the opportunity to take a measure of power 31 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: back from him, starting with Kyle Stevens, who courageously looked 32 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 1: him in the eye on day one and said, little 33 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: girls don't stay little forever that grow into strong women 34 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: that returned to destroy your world. To Rachel Dinelander, who 35 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: closed out the victim statements on day seven, asking the 36 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: court room how much is a little girl worth? Larry's 37 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: sentencing process was visceral, dramatic and incredibly moving, And so 38 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: even as Judge rose Marie Aquilina handed down Larry Nasser's 39 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: historic one hundred and seventy five year jail sentence, the 40 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: movement that his victims had sparked rightfully demanded more. After all, 41 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: his crimes had not happened in a vacuum. Rachel Dinnelander, 42 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: whose experience with Larry Nassar spurred her on to become 43 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: a lawyer for survivors of sexual abuse, demand that the 44 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: institutions that had emboldened a pedophile be held accountable. She 45 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: detailed systemic failures to the court room, especially when it 46 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: came to Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. This is 47 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: what it looks like when institutions create a culture where 48 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: a predator can flourish, unafraid and unabated, she declared. The 49 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,399 Speaker 1: court heard Rachel Denilander and all of Larry's victims, who 50 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: repeatedly called out these institutions' failures, and so did the public. 51 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: As Larry Nassar's criminal case closed, it was inevitable that 52 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: attention would turn toward MSU and USA Gymnastics. Michigan State 53 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: University was deeply embroiled in the scandal, and its reckoning 54 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: started at the top. On January twenty fourth, twenty eighteen, 55 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: leu Anna Simon, the president of the university, stepped down 56 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: under a cloud of criticism. Her resignation letters smacked of insincerity, 57 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: making a point to minimize her own responsibility for what 58 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: had happened to MSU's athletes. As tragedies are politicized, blame 59 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: is inevitable. Lou Anna Simon penned, as president, it is 60 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: only natural that I am the focus of this anger. 61 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: Lou Anna Simon was positioning her resignation as an institutional favor, 62 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: as if she was taking one for the team, rather 63 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: than acknowledging the horror that had transpired under her leadership. 64 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: The collegiate athletes who had suffered abuse at Larry Nasser's 65 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: hands were not impressed. Survivor Larissa Boyce, the young MSU 66 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: gymnasts who had reported Larry Nasser all the way back 67 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety seven, was especially outraged when she asked 68 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: lou Anna Simon to attend her testimony at Larry Nasser's hearing, 69 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: only to have the former university president decline to appear. 70 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: I asked lou Anna Simon to be here for my statement, 71 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: Larissa Boyce told the court. She told me she could 72 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: not fit it into her schedule. To Larissa and the 73 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: other MSU athletes, lou Anna Simon's failure to attend the 74 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: sentencing of Larry Nassar was just one more piece of 75 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: evidence that Michigan State University didn't care about its female 76 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: students and the repeated violations they had suffered at the 77 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: hands of the university's now infamous employee. The outrage was palpable, 78 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: and more heads were destined to roll. Lou Anna Simon's 79 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: perfunctory resignation marked the beginning of a series of high 80 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: profile departures and legal repercussions from Michigan State University staff 81 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: members who had failed to act when confronted about Larry 82 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: Nassar's predations. Kathy Klegus, the former gymnastics coach at MSU, 83 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: was next up. She was convicted on two counts for 84 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: lying to the police about her knowledge of Larry Nasser's activities. 85 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the determination, stating that 86 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: miss Kleggus could and should have acted on complaints about 87 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: Larry Nasser. Decades ago. That is a failure on multiple levels, 88 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: but none is more important than her failure to protect 89 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: the young women who had the courage to speak up 90 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: decades ago and the hundreds who became Nasar's victims after that. 91 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: The next MSU employee on the chopping block was William's Strample, 92 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: Larry Nasser's former boss and the dean of the College 93 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to being arrested and charged 94 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: with neglective duty at the administrative level in Larry Nasser's 95 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 1: chain of supervision, prosecutors alleged that he had personally used 96 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: his role as dean to take advantage of female students. 97 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: As reported by the Detroit News, William was said to 98 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: have made sexually inappropriate remarks when he privately met with 99 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: students to discuss academic issues. For instance, he allegedly told 100 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 1: one woman that she needed to dress sexier to make 101 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: it in medicine, and some students perceived his comments as 102 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: offers of help in exchange for sexual favors. In fact, 103 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: a few students alleged that William Strample had even said 104 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: heeding women who put out for older men for gifts. 105 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: Talk about a serious ick factor William was sent to 106 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: jail for a year and eleven months. Underscoring the hot 107 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: water bubbling away at MSU. Bob Noto, Michigan State University's 108 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: long standing VP of Legal Affairs, then departed under pressure, 109 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: along with Athletics Director Mark Hollis and Provost June Ewitt. 110 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: This cleaning of the house under duress at MSU coincided 111 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: with the racking up of some very hefty bills. The 112 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: US Education Department fined at Michigan State University four point 113 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: five million dollars in September twenty nineteen for failing to 114 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: respond to sexual assault complaints against Larry Nasser, and ultimately 115 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: MSU ended up agreeing to a staggering five hundred million 116 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: dollars settlement to compensate survivors. This was one of the 117 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: largest sexual abuse settlements in history and a public admission 118 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: of the university's failure to protect its students. As reported 119 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: by the Associated Press, Brian Breslin, the chairman of the 120 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: Michigan State University's governing board, went on the record with 121 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: the statement, we are truly sorry to all the survivors 122 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: and their families for what they have been through, and 123 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: we admire the courage it has taken to tell their stories. 124 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: We recognize the need for change on our campus and 125 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: in our community around sexual assault awareness and prevention. As 126 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: of mid twenty eighteen, however, Trailblazer's survivor, Rachel Dinelander, told 127 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: the AP that while the settlement quote reflects the incredible 128 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: damage which took place on MSU's campus, she had still 129 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: not seen any meaningful reform at the university. In the 130 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: subsequent six years since Rachel's assessment, MSU has purported to 131 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: overhaul its approach to handling sexual assault allegations. They've revamped 132 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: their Title nine processes to ensure more thorough investigations and 133 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: fair outcomes, and the university claims that there's a new 134 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: emphasis on transparency and ongoing training for staff and students, 135 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: aiming to equip everyone on campus to better recognize and 136 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: respond to sexual misconduct. Time will tell if these measures 137 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: prove adequate for student safety, but as recently as July 138 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: twenty nine, twenty twenty three, The Independent reported on another 139 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: lawsuit lodged against MSU by Larry Nasser's victims. This time, 140 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: survivors accused the university of holding secret votes that led 141 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: to MSU's refusal to hand over more than six thousand 142 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: documents to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office related to 143 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: the case. That sure doesn't sound like a new emphasis 144 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 1: on transparency, does it. The victims made clear that they 145 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: were not seeking more money by filing the additional lawsuit. Rather, 146 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: A zam Elder, an attorney representing the victims, issued a 147 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: press release saying, we contend that MSU board members made 148 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: a behind closed doors, secret decision not to release the 149 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: records in blatant violation of the Open Meetings Act. They 150 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: followed that up with violations of the Freedom of Information 151 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: Act when we requested emails that might show they discussed 152 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: and made a closed door decision on the matter in 153 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: violation of law. Since she was unable to get the 154 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: documents from Michigan State University, Attorney General Dana Nessil had 155 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: no choice but to end her probe in twenty twenty one. 156 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: This is what it prompted the victims to again seek 157 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: legal recourse. They demanded accountability from the university and its 158 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: elected trustee board, pressing for the release of the six 159 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: thousand documents, and finally, on December fifteenth, twenty twenty three, 160 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: they achieved a real result when the Michigan State University 161 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: Board of Trustees voted unanimously to release the previously privileged 162 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: documents related to the Larry Nasser investigation. The students, the 163 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: MSU community at large, and most importantly, the victims of 164 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: Larry Nasser have long been owed this transparency. Attorney General 165 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: Dana Nessl said, I am encouraged to see the MSU 166 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: Board of Trustees finally make the right decision on a 167 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: long promised and long delayed measure of transparency. Just as 168 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: Michigan State University was grappling with the fallout from the 169 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: Larry Naser scandal, USA Gymnastics found itself in the eye 170 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: of the same storm. It was difficult for the organization 171 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: to find a path forward amidst so many horrific allegations 172 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: rocking its foundation, and as MSU had discovered, there was 173 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: no way around and administrative purge. So Steve Penny, the 174 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: president and CEO of USA Gymnastics since two thousand and five, 175 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: stepped down in March twenty seventeen under mounting pressure over 176 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: the mishandling of the Larry Nasser in allegations. According to CNN, 177 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: He announced his resignation during a USA Gymnastics Board of 178 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: Director's conference call, explaining that my decision to step aside 179 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: his CEO is solely to support the best interests of 180 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: USA Gymnastics at this time. He also added that he 181 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: was heartbroken to hear of instances of alleged abuse, saying 182 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: it sickens me that young athletes would be exploited in 183 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: such a manner. Steve Penny's departure triggered a domino effect, 184 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: culminating in the entire USA Gymnastics Board of Directors, resigning 185 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: by January twenty eighteen at the behest of an unrelenting 186 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: US Olympic Committee which was determined to see accountability and reform. But, 187 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: as with Michigan State University's cleanse, the dominoes continued to 188 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: tumble at USA Gymnastics. The hot glare of public attention 189 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: turned to the Coroli Ranch in Texas, the storied national 190 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: training center run by the legendary Bella and Marta Coroli. 191 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: Known for its rigorous training regimes, the ranch also became 192 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: a site where many of Larry Nasher's abuses were perpetrated. 193 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: You may remember some of the heartbreaking personal stories from 194 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: gymnasts in the last episode of Playing Dirty out their 195 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: time at the Corolyi Ranch. The isolated setting of the 196 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: Coroli Ranch contributed to this toxic culture, where young gymnasts 197 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: felt they had nowhere to turn, their voices stifled under 198 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: the weight of authority and expectation. The State of Texas, 199 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: led by Governor Greg Abbott, initiated an investigation into the 200 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: ranch to unearth any negligence or possible complicity by the 201 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: Corolis in the Larry Nasar scandal. Meanwhile, the recently resigned 202 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 1: USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny found himself drawn back into 203 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: the spotlight when he was arrested in October twenty eighteen 204 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: on charges of tampering with evidence. He was accused of 205 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: orchestrating the removal of documents from the Coroli Ranch to 206 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 1: shield USA Gymnastics from further scrutiny. As reported by ESPN, 207 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: Steve Penny was aware in November twenty sixteen of a 208 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 1: criminal investigation into Naser's serial sexual assault on Team USA 209 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: gymnasts at the famed Coroli Ranch near Huntsville, Texas, when 210 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: he ordered USA Gymnastics employees at the ranch to remove 211 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: any documents related to Nasser. Former USAG national team travel 212 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,959 Speaker 1: manager Amy White told attorneys investigating the case on behalf 213 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: of the United States Olympic Committee that Penny had ordered 214 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: her to refuse investigators access to the ranch when they 215 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: first showed up on November eighth, twenty sixteen. Ammy White 216 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: told investigators Steve Penny then instructed her that same day 217 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: to go to a local department store to purchase a 218 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: suitcase large enough to take medical forms, rooming lists, flash drives, 219 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: and anything else with Naser's name on it to the 220 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis. Amy White told investigators she 221 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: complied with Steve Penny's instructions, flying to Indianapolis with the 222 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: evidence before officers showed up the next day with a 223 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: search warrant. Have you ever heard the saying it's the 224 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: cover up, not the crime, Well, now you know it's 225 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: a saying for a reason. By April twenty twenty two, 226 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: Steve Penny had managed to secure a highly controversial dismissal 227 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: in Walker County, Texas, with the court deciding insufficient evidence 228 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: to prosecute Larry Nasser's victims. Disagreed with former national team 229 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: member Maggie Nicholls's father, John, expressing his frustration to ESPN 230 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: reporters John Barr and Dan Murphy, Steve Penny misled us 231 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: from the very beginning, John Nichols insisted, if no other 232 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: than Larry Nasser is held accountable at USA Gymnastics, what's 233 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: going to stop this from happening again? John Nicholls's question 234 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: was solid, and he had an army of survivors and 235 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: their family members demanding inappropriate answer. The lawsuits against USA 236 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: Gymnastics piled up, brought forth by overall hundred of Larry 237 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: Nasser's victims, including many Olympic stars such as Ali Raisman, 238 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: Simone Biles, MICHAELA. Moroney, and Gabby Douglas. According to CNN, 239 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: Simone Biles announced in a Senate here that USA Gymnastics 240 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee knew that 241 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: I was abused by their official team doctor, long before 242 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: I was ever made aware of their knowledge. As one 243 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: of the most revered gymnasts in history, Simone Bile's words 244 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: carried real weight, resonating across the nation and world. There 245 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: was nothing USA Gymnastics could do to protect against a 246 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: severe reputational hit, but In a bid to manage the 247 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: escalating legal costs and potential settlements, the organization filed for 248 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: Chapter eleven bankruptcy in December twenty eighteen. This move streamlined 249 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: the settlement process under bankruptcy protections, with a proposed two 250 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: hundred and fifteen million dollars settlement emerging in February twenty twenty, 251 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: pending approval from the survivors. USA Gymnastics was also forced 252 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: to review and overhaul its approach to athlete safety. The 253 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: implementation of the Safe Sport Policy and collaboration with the 254 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: US Center for Safe Sport on June nineteenth, twenty nineteen, 255 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: marked a significant step towards safeguarding athletes. These policies set 256 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: stringent guidelines for handling abuse allegations and represented a critical 257 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: stride towards restoring trust in their organization. Marcy Schwartz, a 258 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: former competitive gymnast, lauded the move. As a survivor of 259 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: abuse myself, I'm encouraged to see USA Gymnastics taking the 260 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: initiative to put athletes and their safety first, said Marcy. 261 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: In reviewing the updated Safe Sport Policy, I truly believe 262 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: that the detail and the clarity on what is and 263 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: is not acceptable behavior between an athlete and coach could 264 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: have protected me, and it seemed that the new safe 265 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: Sport policy was in fact effective because its implementation had 266 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: captured another predator. Remember John Geddert, who co owned Twist 267 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: Star's USA Gymnastics club in Michigan and and enabled Larry 268 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: Nasser to abuse young gymnasts there under the guise of 269 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: medical treatment. Well in a chilling echo of Larry's actions, 270 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: it soon became clear that John Gedderd himself had a 271 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: very dark side. Known for his strict coaching style and 272 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: significant role in the gymnastics community, John Geddert was often 273 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: described as a brutal coach. Many former gymnasts have alleged 274 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: that his coaching style was downright abusive, with reports that 275 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: John would tell gymnasts to kill themselves, would throw items 276 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: in his gym when angered, and that on one occasion 277 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: he shoved gymnast michaela Thrush so hard on top of 278 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: the low bar that she had a black eye, ruptured 279 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: lymph nodes in her neck, and torn muscles in her stomach. 280 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: According to Michayla, the injuries were severe enough to end 281 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: her career. Much of this behavior is criminal and all 282 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: of it is revolting. Yet John Gedderd's tactics were given 283 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 1: the steal of approval as he was chosen to coach 284 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: the twenty twelve women's gymnastics Olympic team. When the twenty 285 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: twelve team, which included gymnast Gabby Douglas, MICHAELA. Moroney, Ali 286 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: raceman Kyler Ross and Jordan Weeber were dubbed the Fierce 287 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: Five and grabbed gold at the Games in London, it 288 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: seemed that John Geeddett would get away with his unconscionable 289 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: treatment of athletes, after all, he trained winners, But when 290 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: Larry Nasser's scandal peaked, it soon became clear that the 291 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 1: Fierce Five and countless other gymnasts who had trained at 292 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: Twist Stars were winners in spite of John Geddett, rather 293 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: than because of him. John's close association with Larry and 294 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: the shared space at Twist Stars caused the authorities to 295 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 1: start digging into the famous gymnastics club with a vengeance, 296 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: and as the investigations deepened, the layers were peeled back 297 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: to reveal whose sixty three year old John Geeddett really 298 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: was a self serving predator. John Gehett was charged on 299 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 1: February twenty fifth, twenty twenty one, with twenty four felonies, 300 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: including sexual assault, human trafficking, and running a criminal enterprise. 301 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: These charges were not about any potential complicity in Larry 302 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: Nasser's abuses, but about his own direct actions against young gymnasts, 303 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: which included forcing them to perform while injured and physically 304 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: assaulting some of them. Gymnast Bailey Lorenzen shared with CNN 305 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: that John was always scary. He would be throwing water 306 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: bottles at the girls in the gym and get in 307 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: their face and scream at them. Brittany Eragon, one of 308 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: the gymnasts who trained under John Getriert, was driven to 309 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: a suicide attempt in twenty twelve by his abuse. She 310 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: shared that if she didn't perform her exercises perfectly, he'd scream, 311 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: one of his favorite threats, that he was going to 312 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: beat her like a redheaded stepchild. It was in his eyes, 313 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: Brittany remembered, they pierced through you. You knew he wasn't kidding. 314 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: Despite his tough reputation, however, John Geeddett proved unwilling to 315 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: face up the punishment himself. Within hours of criminal charges 316 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: being brought against him, John committed suicide with a gunshot 317 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: to the head. His suicide marked a grim final act 318 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: and a tumultuous chapter in gymnastics history, leaving many questions 319 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: unanswered and his victims feeling cheated. Sarah Klein, who has 320 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: identified herself as the first gymnast to be abused by 321 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: Larry Nasser, called John Geeddert's death by suicide and escape 322 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: from justice, and the revamped USA Gymnastics Organization mirrored her sentiment, 323 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: saying that quote, we had hoped that news of the 324 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: criminal charges being brought against John Geddett would lead to 325 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: justice through the legal process. With the news of his 326 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: death by suicide, we share the feelings of shock, and 327 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: our thoughts are with the gymnastics community as they grapple 328 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: with the complex emotions of today's events. Experts have noted 329 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: that survivors of sexual abuse often feel torn about the 330 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: suicide of their offender, Sarah Klein. Many feel the offender 331 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: has escaped justice, but some may suffer feelings of guilt 332 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 1: due to previous emotional attachment to their offender. They didn't 333 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: necessarily want their abuser dead, they just wanted the abuse 334 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 1: to stop. It is for these reasons that suicide is rarely, 335 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: if ever, a satisfactory outcome for survivors of sexual abuse. Okay, 336 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: nothing likes some juice to get energized. For the conclusion 337 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: of one of the most shocking aspects of the Larry 338 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: Nassar scandal, the FBI is complete and utter failure to perform. 339 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: You see, while Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and Twist 340 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: Stars coach John Geddert were all being held to task 341 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,400 Speaker 1: on the heels of Larry Nasher's sentencing, the FBI found 342 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: itself alongside all these dirty players on the hot seat. 343 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: In last week's episode of Playing Dirty, I told you 344 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: that the first reports of allegations against Larry Nasser were 345 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 1: made in twenty fifteen to the FBI's Indianapolis office, which 346 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: is notably located in the same city as the headquarters 347 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 1: of USA Gymnastics. Remember while Steve Penny, who was the 348 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 1: CEO of USA Gymnastics at the time, did something uncharacteristically 349 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: above board by actually reporting gymnast Maggie Nichols allegations to 350 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: the FBI, after eight months of inaction from the Indianapolis 351 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: FBI agents to follow up on Maggie's claims, officials from 352 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: USA Gymnastics reached out to the FBI's Los Angeles office. 353 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,199 Speaker 1: The LA office also failed to respond with urgency to 354 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: the reports placed by USA Gymnastics. Why more than a 355 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 1: year elapsed from the initial report made to the FBI 356 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: before the agency finally began an investigation. During that year, 357 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: one hundred and thirty nine girls and women reported being 358 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: molested by Larry Nasser. That's one hundred thirty nine girls 359 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: and women that the FBI could have protected had they 360 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: acted in accordance with their agency's motto of fidelity, bravery, integrity. Clearly, 361 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: there was a major FBI performance breakdown in the Larry 362 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 1: Nasser case, as each and every one of these cornerstones 363 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: was grossly abandoned. To address their agency's serious failings, on 364 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: April twenty third, twenty twenty four, the FBI agreed to 365 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: pay one hundred thirty eight point seven million dollars to 366 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: the one hundred thirty nine survivors harmed by Larry Nasser. 367 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: After the report from Maggie Nichols was brought to their 368 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: attention by USA Gymnastics, the FBI had a clear chance 369 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: to prevent the sexual assault of one hundred thirty nine victims, 370 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 1: but instead of doing their duty, they buried the allegations. 371 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 1: The massive payout represented an official recognition of the harm 372 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: caused by their negligence. But for survivor and the public 373 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 1: at large, the FBI has yet to answer a key question, 374 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: why did this happen? There is still no satisfactory explanation 375 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: for why the FBI failed to act on Maggie Nichol's 376 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: allegations against Larry Nasser. Even worse, the Inspector General uncovered 377 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: that multiple FBI employees made false statements in the course 378 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: of the investigation into what went wrong at the agency 379 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,239 Speaker 1: to hide their own failures. Making false statements in an 380 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 1: investigation is a fireable offense at the FBI, and yet 381 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: it happened. The Inspector General noted a particularly damning finding too, 382 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: a possible motive for the lies and even for the 383 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: burial of the initial allegations. It turns out that the 384 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: Special Agent in charge of the Indianapolis Field Office, j Abbott, 385 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: may well have been a dirty player all along. The 386 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: Inspector General explained that j Abbott violated FBI policy and 387 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: exercised extremely poor judgment under federal ethics rules when he, 388 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 1: without prior authorization, communicated with the USA Gymnastics CEO Steve 389 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: Penny about a potential job opportunity with the US Olympic Committee, 390 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:18,639 Speaker 1: an entity with which Penny had professional connections. Abbot communicated 391 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 1: with Penny about the potential job opportunity while the two 392 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: continued to discuss the allegations against Nasser, and while Abbott 393 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,679 Speaker 1: took an active role in conversations about the FBI's public 394 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 1: statements regarding USA gymnastics handling of those allegations. Abbot should 395 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: have known, and we found that he in fact did 396 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:44,479 Speaker 1: know that this conduct would raise questions regarding his impartiality. Further, 397 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 1: Abbott applied for the position with the US Olympic Committee 398 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,959 Speaker 1: and then falsely denied that he had done so when 399 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 1: questioned by the Office of the Inspector General on two 400 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: separate occasions. It was an appalling revelation, highlighting a senior 401 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: lawylaw enforcement officer enabling one hundred and thirty nine young 402 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: women to be sexually assaulted for his own personal gain. 403 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: Special Agent j Abbot had been more concerned with his 404 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: future career moves than he was by the prospect of 405 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: leaving a sexual predator on the loose. As with Michigan 406 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: State University and USA Gymnastics, the FBI has reassessed their 407 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: initial approach should similar allegations arise in the future. But 408 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: while Special Agent Jay Abbot is no longer with the FBI, 409 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:34,239 Speaker 1: it is noteworthy that he retired with full benefits. Is 410 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: that justice and action not in my book and certainly 411 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 1: not according to Larry Nasser's victims. One survivor expressed her 412 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: sense of disappointment after the FBI's financial settlement, saying quote, 413 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 1: I'm relieved but disappointed that no one person is being 414 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 1: held accountable for failing to report the abuse and for 415 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: sweeping it under the RUG. I definitely have no trust 416 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: in the FBI anymore. And the word trust really does 417 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: lay at the center of the Larry Nasser scandal because 418 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: survivors of sexual abuse often experience a wide range of 419 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:19,880 Speaker 1: psychological issues, which can include chronic post traumatic stress disorder PTSD, anxiety, depression, 420 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: and complex feelings of betrayal and mistrust, especially when the 421 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: perpetrator is a trusted authority figure. The intense public scrutiny 422 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: associated with high profile cases like Larry Nassar's can exacerbate 423 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: these feelings, adding layers of public pressure to private pain. 424 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: Sexual abuse victims also have higher than normal odds of 425 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, and also struggle to 426 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: form future emotional attachments. As former gymnast Jade Capua articulated 427 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: at Larry Nassar's sentencing, all I can think of is 428 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: how this man, someone who held oh so many high credentials, 429 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: was as the monster who left me with more pain 430 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: and scars that I came to his office with the 431 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: pain of never trusting someone physically again, and the scars 432 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: are being touched and exposed in places that were completely 433 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: inappropriate For many of Larry Nasser's survivors. Jade's words resonate. 434 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: The betrayal by a medical professional can understandably severely impact 435 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: a survivor's ability to trust future healthcare providers, which is 436 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: a critical component of their ongoing physical and mental health care. 437 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: The support systems that surround survivors ultimately play a critical 438 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: role in their recovery therapy. Supportive family and friends, and 439 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 1: survivor networks can offer vital resources and emotional support. Survivor 440 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: advocacy groups like RAIN and PAVE have also emerged as 441 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: powerful platforms for change, giving a voice to those who 442 00:29:53,720 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: may otherwise feel silenced. So what happened to the man himself, 443 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: the ultimate dirty player who caused so much irreparable hurt 444 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: to hundreds of girls and women. Well. In the years 445 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: since his incarceration, Larry Nasser has experienced multiple events that 446 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: underscore the gravity of his crimes. On June seventeenth, twenty 447 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: twenty two, the Michigan Supreme Court dismissed Larry Nassar's final appeal, 448 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,959 Speaker 1: closing the door on any potential legal reprieve and cementing 449 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: his lengthy sentences. Larry Nassar isn't coming out of prison alive, 450 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: and every day he spends in prison holds the threat 451 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: of imminent death. Have you ever heard of prison justice? 452 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:44,719 Speaker 1: The rumor has always been that nobody inside takes kindly 453 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: to a child abuser. On July tenth, twenty twenty three, 454 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: this rumor became a reality for Larry Nasser when he 455 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 1: was stabbed twice in the neck, twice in the back, 456 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: and six times in the chest at the United States 457 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 1: Penitentiary Coleman in Florida. He was subsequently reported to be 458 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: in stable condition, but The incident highlights the intense emotions 459 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: and conflicts that continue to swirl around Larry Nasser's presence 460 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: in the penal system. As the gymnastics community and the 461 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: wider sports world continue to grapple with the implications of 462 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: the Larry Naser scandal and all its related dirty players, 463 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: we can but hope that this heartbreaking chapter in sports 464 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 1: history will enshrine the principle of holding athletes well being 465 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: above metal ambitions forever more. Come back next week and 466 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,120 Speaker 1: join me your host, Jay Harris, as I serve up 467 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: a brand new episode of Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. Playing 468 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: Dirty Sports Scandals is a production of Dan Patrick Productions, 469 00:31:56,520 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 1: Never Ever Productions and Workhouse Media from executive produce ducers 470 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: Dan Patrick, Paul Anderson, Nick Panella, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer 471 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: Clary Hosted by Jay Harris, Written and produced by Jen Brown, 472 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 1: Francie Haiks, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clarey.