‘I’m shocked that no one has been fired at MSU’ — What Happens in the Wake of Larry Nassar?
“Everything is worse, exponentially, than Penn State,” says GymCastic podcast host Jessica O’Beirne.
Last week, about a hundred young women and girls testified about the horrifying circumstances of the abuse they suffered at the hands of former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics sports doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar is in the sentencing phase of his trial and faces up to 40 years in prison. He’s already serving 60 years for distributing child pornography.
The courtroom has been an emotionally charged scene as more and more women come forward wanting to testify against Nassar, who has been in the courtroom to be confronted by survivor after survivor. One hundred forty four women in total gave or will give their statement in court.
That means this phase of the trial will probably go well into this week before Nassar will receive his sentence from Judge Rosemary Aquelina.
Michigan Radio reporter Kate Wells has been in the courtroom through the trial and sentencing. She spoke with WDET’s Laura Weber Davis about the courtroom scene.
“It’s really hard to describe how intensely emotional it is to see almost 100 women and girls get up there and face the man who abused them,” says Wells. “You can’t listen to them and not be in awe of them.”
Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson speaks with Jessica O’Beirne, host of the GymCastic podcast, which is devoted to the issues and culture of the gymnastics world.
“I’m shocked that no one has been fired at MSU,” says O’Beirne, who calls it “unbelievable when you compare this to Penn State.”
“Everything is worse, exponentially, than Penn State,” she says.
O’Beirne says people should be fired from MSU and USA Gymnastics – other than Nassar – and that there should be more criminal charges filed, including against people who failed to report the abuse.
Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.
