Larry Nassar loses final appeal in sexual assault scandal

Friday’s decision by the Michigan Supreme Court was a rejection of a final appeal by Larry Nassar (sports doctor) who was sentenced for decades to prison for sexually assaulting athletes, including Olympic medallists.

Attorneys for Nassar saidHe was unfairly treated in 2018; he deserved a new hearing. This was based upon vengeful remarks from a judge who called him “monster” who would “wither” in prison like the wicked witch from “The Wizard of Oz.”

“I just signed your Death warrant,” Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina saidNassar’s 40 year sentence.

The state Supreme Court saidNassar’s appeal was considered a “close question” because it had “concerns about the judge’s conduct.” However, the court noted that Aquilina stayed true to the sentencing agreement reached by the lawyers in the case, despite her provocative comments.

A record 150 victims gave or received statements during a seven-day hearing at Aquilina’s court four years ago.

“It’s over. … It’s almost six years since I filed the police complaint, but it’s finally over,” Rachael denhollander, Rachael Denhollander was the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar. saidFriday on Twitter

Under the pretense of medical treatment for leg and hip injuries, Nassar pleaded guilty sexually assaulting gymnasts with his hands. He worked at Michigan State University as well as at USA Gymnastics in Indianapolis, where he traveled the world along with the elite of the sport.

Aquilina stated to Nassar that the Constitution does not allow cruel and unusual punishment. “If it did allow for cruel and unusual punishment, I would have to say that I might allow him to do to all these beautiful souls, to these young women in their youth. I would allow anyone or many people to do to him the same thing he did to other people.”

In a separate case, Nassar was sentenced to another 40-year term in a neighboring county.

Aquilina became a celebrity after the Nassar case. She attended the 2018 ESPY awards Los Angeles where his victims were honored. The judge saidAfter her name started appearing on Tshirts, she trademarked the name. Natalie Portman, an actress on Saturday Night Live, wore one.

The scandal hasn’t disappeared. The scandal isn’t over. He was taken into custody by the Michigan State University Police in 2016, more than one year after he was first made aware of the allegations against him.

Michigan State, accused of failing to take action over many years in order to stop Nassar’s assaults, agreed to pay $500m to more than 300 victims. USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic Paralympic Committee settled for $380 million.