Larry Nassar loses last appeal in sexual assault scandal

DETROIT

Friday’s rejection by the Michigan Supreme Court of Larry Nassar, a sports doctor sentenced to decades for sexually assaulting gymnasts including Olympic medalists, was the final appeal.

Attorneys for Nassar saidHe was unfairly treated in 2018 and deserved a second hearing based on vengeful remarks made by a judge, who called him a “monster”, who would “wither in prison” like the wicked witch in “The Wizard of Oz.”

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

The state Supreme Court saidNassar’s appeal had been a “close query” and it had “concerns over the judge’s conduct.” However, the court also noted Aquilina’s compliance with the sentencing agreement that was reached by the lawyers in the case, despite her provocative comments.

The court stated, “We decline to spend additional judiciary resources and further subject victims in this case to trauma where the questions at issue are nothing more that an academic exercise.” saidIn a 2-page order.

A remarkable seven-day hearing that took place in Aquilina’s Court more than four years ago saw more than 150 victims speak or submit statements.

Nassar pleaded guilty in sexual assault of gymnasts and other athletes using his hands under the pretense that he was providing medical treatment for hip and leg injury. He was a student at Michigan State University, and he worked for USA Gymnastics in Indianapolis. He traveled the world with the best of the sport’s elite.

The judge stated that “our Constitution does not allow us to use cruel and unusual punishment.” said. “If it did happen, I would have to say that I might allow what he did all these beautiful souls, those young women in their youth. I would let someone or many people do to him what he did for others.”

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

He is currently being held in federal prison for child pornography crime in a separate case that arose out of the same investigation. Nassar, now 58, will spend his entire life behind bars.

Aquilina was made famous by the Nassar trial. She was present at the 2018 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, where he was honored. The judge saidAfter her name began appearing on T-shirts, she trademarked it. Natalie Portman wore one of her T-shirts on “Saturday Night Live.”

The scandal isn’t going away. The scandal has not subsided. More than 100 women, including Simone Biles, Olympic gold medalist, are seeking $1 billion from the federal government to cover the failure of the FBI to stop Nassar in 2015. In 2016, he was arrested by the Michigan State University Police, more than a full year later.

Michigan State, which was accused by Nassar of not taking action for many years, agreed to pay $500 million in damages to more than 300 girls and women who were harmed by him. USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement.