Larry Nassar's final appeal rejected by Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear an appeal from former sports doctor Larry Nassar, according to the Associated Press. Attorneys for Nassar filed the appeal, claiming Nassar was not treated fairly during his 2018 trial.
The appeal was centered around the actions of Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting gymnasts. After issuing that judgement, Aquilina told Nassar, "I just signed your death warrant."
Nassar's attorneys argued he deserved a new trial based on that, and other, comments from Aquilina. The Michigan Supreme Court declined to take the case.
Rachael Denhollander, a former gymnast and the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual assault, responded to the news Friday, tweeting, "It's finally over."
It's over. MI Supreme Court declined to hear Larry's appeal.
Almost six years after I filed the police report, it's finally over. https://t.co/cleZxOqTsM— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) June 17, 2022
Nassar pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including child pornography, sexual assault and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Team USA gymnasts suing FBI over mishandling of Larry Nassar case
Roughly 90 women, including Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, are suing the FBI over its handling of the Nassar case. The FBI reportedly failed to investigate Nassar in 2015, when it was first presented with evidence Nassar was abusing gymnasts. The United States Department of Justice agreed the FBI was negligent in handling the case, but declined to charge two former agents who failed to act.
The women suing the FBI are seeking over $1 billion for its failure to take action against Nassar.
