Nassar Says It’s Hard Listening To Victims, Judge Calls Him Out

LANSING, MI — Larry Nassar, a once-prominent Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics sports doctor and now convicted pedophile, complained to the judge overseeing his sentencing hearing in Michigan that it’s hard for him to listen to the often cathartic stories of more than 100 accusers who said Nassar molested them under the guise of "medically necessary" treatments.

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina didn’t have any sympathy for the 54-year-old Nassar, who listed a litany of complaints about the marathon sentencing hearing in a six-page, single-spaced letter. She dismissed Nassar’s complaints about the effect of the testimony on his mental health as “mumbo jumbo.”

“Spending four or five days listening to them is minor, considering the hours of pleasure you’ve had at their expense, ruining their lives,” Aquilina said of Nassar, at one time a respected physician who treated some of America’s top Olympic gymnasts. After the scandal erupted, he was stripped of his medical credentials.

Nassar is already serving a 60-year sentence on federal pornography charges and could get another 40 years after he pleaded guilty to molesting seven girls at MSU, his home and a Lansing area gymnastics club. He will be sentenced Jan. 31 on three similar charges in nearby Eaton County, and he also faces a spate of civil lawsuits.

Nassar complained the extraordinary hearing, which has featured a parade of victims he molested with his hands, includes accusers beyond those named in the seven charges against him and that the proceedings have been turned into a media circus.

"Aquilina is allowing them all to talk," he wrote. "She wants me to sit in the witness box next to her for all four days so the media cameras will be directed at her."

“I didn’t ask any media to be here,” Aquilina said.

The judge has been thrust into the role of counselor during the hearing, which could end Friday. She consoles the women, many of whom have sobbed as they described the long-lasting effects Nassar’s molestation, and has frequently admonished Nassar, whose has bowed his head and wept.

Nassar may need a therapist himself, Aquilina allowed, but said “that’s not me.”

Among those offering testimony Thursday was Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, whose statement was read by prosecutor in the case.

“As it turns out, much to my demise, Dr. Nassar was not a doctor,” said Maroney, who offered prepared testimony after USA Gymnastics said it would not fine her for violating a non-disclosure agreement with the organization tied to a $1.25 million settlement. “He was and forever will be a child molester, a monster of a human being. End of story. He abused my trust. He abused my body. And he left scars on my psyche that may never go away."

Of the abuse, Maroney said "it seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was ‘treated.’ ”

“It happened in London before my team and I won a gold medal and it happened before I won my silver medal.”

When she was 15, she flew to Japan for a competition.

“I had flown all day and night to get to Tokyo,” Maroney said. “He gave me a sleeping pill for the flight and next thing I remember I was alone in his hotel room getting a treatment. I thought I was going to die that night.”

Maroney also blamed MSU, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee, which she said ignored complaints about Nassar and didn't investigate with any vigor.

Maroney is one of three members of the 2012 gold-medal winning “Fierce Five” gymnastics team who have said Nassar molested them. Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman have also said Nassar molested them.

Jamie Dantzscher, a 2000 Olympian who was among the first to publicly accuse Nassar, looked him directly in the eye during the sentencing hearing. “How dare you ask any of us for forgiveness?” she asked.

“Your days of manipulation are over,” she said. “We have a voice. We have the power now.”

On Thursday, USA Gymnastics said it has terminated its agreement with the Karolyi Ranch in Texas, where gymnasts said Nassar abused them.

"USA Gymnastics has terminated its agreement with the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas. It will no longer serve as the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center," USAG President and CEO Kerry Perry said.

"It has been my intent to terminate this agreement since I began as president and CEO in December. Our most important priority is our athletes, and their training environment must reflect this. We are committed to a culture that empowers and supports our athletes.

"We have cancelled next week’s training camp for the U.S. Women’s National Team. We are exploring alternative sites to host training activities and camps until a permanent location is determined. We thank all those in the gymnastics community assisting in these efforts."

Here is Maroney's full victim-impact statement:

For as long as I can remember, gymnastics was my life. As a child, my mom said, “I need to put this child in gymnastics, to tire her out.” You could say I was in gymnastics since the age of 18 months. I’ve always felt comfortable in the gym, sort of my home away from home.

I was 7 years old for my first competition. I remember getting ready for the meet. I got my hair braided with a cool bow, and some sparkles. I got to wear this really awesome leo, and wore a matching warm-up. Life was good, I looked good… and I was pretty certain that one day I’d be heading off to the Olympics

The Olympics is something that brings people hope and joy. It inspires people to fight for their dreams, because anything is possible with hard-work and dedication. I remember watching the 2004 Olympics. I was 8 years old, and I told myself that one day I would wear that red, white, and blue leotard, and compete for my country. Sure, from the outside looking in, it’s a remarkable and amazing story. I did it. I got there, but not without a price.

I made the US National Team at the age of 14, and began to compete throughout the world for my country. When I first met Larry Nassar, he was the doctor for our National Team and our Olympic team. I was told to trust him, that he would treat my injuries and make it possible for me to achieve my Olympic dreams. Dr. Nassar told me that I was receiving “medically necessary treatment that he had been performing on patients for over 30 years.

As it turns out, much to my demise, Dr Nassar was not a doctor, he in fact is, was, and forever shall be, a child molester, and a monster of a human being. End of story! He abused my trust, he abused my body and he left scars on my psyche that may never go away.

It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn’t end until I left the sport. It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was “treated.” It happened in London before my team and I won the gold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver Medal. For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He’d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a “treatment.” I thought I was going to die that night.

Because the National Team training camps did not allow parents to be present, my mom and dad were unable to observe what Nassar was doing, and this has imposed a terrible and undeserved burden of guilt on my loving family. Larry Nassar deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. Not only because of what he did to me, my teammates and so many other little girls – He needs to be behind bars so he will never prey upon another child. I urge you to impose the maximum sentence upon him.

Ever since I went public with my story, I have been inspired and uplifted by the love and support of my former teammates, fans and many other good people.

People should know that sexual abuse of children is not just happening in Hollywood, in the media or in the halls of Congress. This is happening everywhere. Wherever there is a position of power, there seems to be potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there, were unnecessary, and disgusting.

I was deeply saddened by the stories of my fellow Olympic teammates that suffered as I did at the hands of Larry Nassar. More than 140 women and girls had to say, “#MeToo” to Nassar’s sexual assaults and hundreds more were victimized to create the pornographic images that fueled his evil desires.

A question that has been asked over and over is: How could have Larry Nassar been allowed to assault so many women and girls for more than two decades?

The answer to that question lies in the failure of not one, but three major institutions to stop him — Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.

When my story became public the US Olympic Committee said, “Each doctor working with our athletes undergoes background checks including an evaluation of medical licensure actions. Unfortunately, this predator was not identified by any organization during the time in question.”

Reports in the Nation’s leading newspapers and media outlets document credible claims that Michigan State University trainers and coaches received complaints about Nassar going back to the late 1990s. These complaints were ignored.

Nassar was not even licensed to practice medicine in Texas, yet he “treated” and abused girls at the Karolyi Ranch Olympic Training Center in Huntsville, Texas for more than 15 years.

In 2014, Nassar was the subject of a Michigan State University investigation based on additional complaints of sexual misconduct. This botched investigation concluded that Nassar’s actions, which he has now admitted were sexual assaults, were legitimate medical treatments. He was allowed to go back to work at Michigan State University and continue molesting girls. USA

Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee were never informed of this investigation.

When other Olympic and National Team athletes complained to USA Gymnastics about Larry Nassar in 2015 he was allowed to retire as the Olympic Team doctor and Michigan State University was never informed of the complaints against him. He returned to Michigan State University and allegedly continued to molest young girls until he was finally arrested nearly a year later.

A simple fact is this. If Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee had paid attention to any of the red flags in Larry Nassar’s behavior I never would have met him, I never would have been “treated” by him, and I never would have been abused by him.

It is my hope that federal and state law enforcement agencies will not close the book on the Larry Nassar scandal after he receives his just punishment. It is time to hold the leadership of Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee accountable for allowing, and in some cases enabling, his crimes.

Our silence has given the wrong people power for too long, and it’s time to take our power back.

Larry Nassar Sentencing: Watch The Live Stream

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lead photo: Paul Sancya/AP: File