One of Larry Nassar’s victims who told the disgraced former sports doctor that ‘this is your hell and I hope you burn in it’ said on Friday that his ex-boss at Michigan State University was a ‘coward’ for not showing up to all of the impact statements in court.
Alexis Alvarado, a youth gymnast who is one of more than 140 young women and girls who were assaulted by Nassar while they were seeking medical treatment, called out Lou Anna Simon on Friday for not showing up to all of the victim impact statements.
Alvarado, 19, said Nassar sexually abused her for six years beginning when she was just 12 years old, according to Huffington Post.
A total of 105 women are expected to confront Nassar in a Lansing courtroom to give an impact statement about their experiences as sexual assault victims.
Alexis Alvarado (above), one of Larry Nassar’s victims, told the disgraced former sports doctor on Friday: ‘This is your hell and I hope you burn in it’
She also hit out at Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon (above), for not appearing in court during all four days of victim impact statements in the sentencing phase of Nassar’s trial
Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty in November to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
He is expected to be sentenced to a prison term of at least 40 years – on top of the already 60-year sentence he was given by a federal court for child pornography.
He also faces more than 150 civil lawsuits.
But there is growing anger at Simon and MSU, who are being accused of enabling Nassar’s crimes during his tenure as a team physician and assistant professor at the school.
Nassar was hired by MSU in 1997.
Simon appeared briefly in court during the second day of the impact statements, but her absence throughout most of the heart-wrenching four days of painful testimonials has angered victims and their supporters.
During an appearance with reporters, one of Nassar’s victims confronted Simon about the unviversity’s efforts in paying for counseling.
MSU continues to stand behind Simon – even though it was learned that other administrators knew for decades that Nassar was accused of sexually abusing young girls.
Alvarado, 19, said Nassar (above) sexually abused her for six years beginning when she was just 12 years old
Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty in November to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is expected to be sentenced to a prison term of at least 40 years – on top of the already 60-year sentence he was given by a federal court for child pornography
The school’s board of trustees held a four-hour meeting on Friday, after which it declared that Simon is the ‘right leader’ for the university.
The board came to the decision amid growing calls for her resignation over the university’s handling of the disgraced Nassar.
Board President Brian Breslin said members understand the ‘public’s faith has been shaken.’
He says that’s why the school asked the state attorney to review the facts.
Breslin says that as information is presented, ‘the board will act.’
The state’s four legislative leaders have called for Simon to step down or be fired.
The school’s board of trustees held a four-hour meeting on Friday, after which it declared that Simon is the ‘right leader’ for the university. The board came to the decision amid growing calls for her resignation over the university’s handling of the disgraced Nassar
The Michigan House speaker on Friday asked lawmakers to launch inquiries.
More than 80 girls and women have given victim-impact statements this week at the sentencing for Nassar, who worked at Michigan State and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics.
The university says reviews by campus police, the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office have not resulted in criminal charges against anyone at the university other than Nassar.
He was fired in September 2016.
An investigation by The Detroit News which was published on Thursday found that at least 14 MSU officials knew of Nassar’s sexual misconduct.
At least eight women reported Nassar to school representatives over the course of the past two decades – well before he would be charged with assaulting scores of girls and young women.
Simon told The Detroit News that she only learned of suspected criminal activity in 2014.
That’s when a Title IX complaint was filed against the school by a woman who told police and university officials that she was assaulted by Nassar.
Michigan State University’s student newspaper ran a front page editorial demanding that Simon resign after revelations that MSU officials were told two decades ago about Nassar’s crimes
Title IX is a federal statue which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal funding.
In March 2014, the woman went to Nassar for treatment for hip pain. She said that during her visit, Nassar cupped her buttocks, massaged her breasts and vaginal area, and was ‘extremely close’ to digitally raping her, according to the Lansing State Journal.
The university cleared Nassar of wrongdoing. Its investigator concluded that the woman ‘misinterpreted’ what Nassar did because she didn’t grasp the ‘nuanced difference’ between sexual assault and proper osteopathic medical procedures.
MSU said it decided not to reopen the investigation because the same woman who filed the Title IX complaint is also one of 90 women suing both Nassar and MSU.
‘I was informed [in 2014] that a sports medicine doctor was under investigation,’ Simon told The Detroit News.
‘I told people to play it straight up, and I did not receive a copy of the report. That’s the truth.’
When asked about women who say they told MSU officials about Nassar, Simon declined to comment.
‘Those issues are points of dispute and part of civil litigation and I am not going to comment on,’ she said.
‘What I can tell you is what I knew, straight up. My standard response is to tell people to play things straight up and I did not receive a copy of the report.’
According to one of the lawsuits filed against Nassar, MSU, and others, the earliest known sexual assault was in 1992.
At the time, Nassar was pursuing an osteopathic medical degree at MSU.
According to the lawsuit, the victim was between the ages of 12 and 14 when Nassar invited her to his apartment for treatment, gave her a full-body massage, and then digitally penetrated her vagina and anus.
Five years later, Larissa Boyce, a former gymnast, says she told MSU when Nassar did the same to her.
Tiffany Thomas Lopez, a former MSU softball player, said she reported Nassar’s actions to three trainers during her playing days from 1998-2001.
She told The Athletic that she was hurt by the university’s decision to endorse Simon.
‘I’m highly disappointed that here we are, Day Four, of all of us survivors here to testify and share our stories – it’s like a slap in the face again,’ Lopez said.
‘Completely dismissed once again. No support from the university that I gave my all to. I’m crushed.’
Coward: Larry Nassar once again hid behind his hands for much of the proceedings on Friday (above)