SafeSport Center announces changes designed to address widespread complaints
The U.S. Center for SafeSport has announced 10 changes to the way it operates in a move it says is designed to increase efficiency and โtrauma sensitivity,โ while addressing complaints that have come from both victims and the accused.
Olympic law rewrite calls for public funding for SafeSport and federal grassroots sports office
A proposed rewrite of the law governing the Olympics in the United States calls on public funding for the embattled U.S. Center for SafeSport while also forming a new government office to oversee grassroots sports that have long been attached to the Olympics themselves.
Liberty University will pay $14 million, the largest fine ever levied under the federal Clery Act
The U.S. Department of Education says Liberty University has agreed to pay an unprecedented $14 million fine after the large Christian school in Virginia failed to disclose information about crimes on campus.
Michigan State fires coach Mel Tucker for bringing ridicule to school, breaching his contract
Michigan State has fired Mel Tucker, saying the suspended football coach failed to present adequate reasons why he should not be fired for cause after having what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor.
Mel Tucker's attorney: Michigan State doesn't have cause to fire suspended coach over phone sex
Mel Tuckerโs attorney says Michigan State does not have cause to fire its suspended football coach after Tucker acknowledged having phone sex with an activist and rape survivor because he did not โengage in unprofessional or unethical behaviorโ or violate his contract.
SafeSport Center 'in potential crisis' according to panel's survey of Olympic system
A wide-ranging survey into the state of the U_S_ Olympic system leveled criticism at the U_S_ Center for SafeSport, with a draft report concluding that feedback collected about the 6-year-old agency โpaints a picture of a center in potential crisis.โ.
Larry Nassar survivors sue Michigan State over alleged 'secret decisions' on releasing documents
Women who were sexually assaulted by former Michigan State University sports doctor Larry Nassar have filed a lawsuit claiming school officials made โsecret decisionsโ about releasing documents in the case.
Oakland County urologist to stand trial on sexual assault charges connected to youth hockey physicals
A doctor who says he received the nickname โHockey Docโ after spending more than two decades providing medical assistance to youth hockey teams in Michigan and Minnesota will stand trial on charges that he sexually assaulted patients.
Suspect in Larry Nassar stabbing said ex-doctor made lewd remark watching Wimbledon, AP source says
A prisoner suspected of stabbing Larry Nassar at a federal penitentiary in Florida said the disgraced former sports doctor provoked the attack by making a lewd comment while they were watching a Wimbledon tennis match.
FBI open to settling claims by gymnasts abused by Nassar
The FBI has reached out to attorneys representing Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar to begin settlement talks in the $1 billion claim they brought against the federal government.
Justice Dept. bolsters monitoring of federal inmate accounts
The Justice Department is directing the federal prison system implement new procedures to monitor government-run prison deposit accounts that have at times been used by inmates to shield themselves from paying debts and for suspicious or illegal activity.
Texans QBโs sex assault cases highlight concerns amid #MeToo
Lawyers fighting sexual assault allegations against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson face a predicament: Defending their client means working to discredit the claims of 22 women who are more likely to be believed four years into the #MeToo movement.
Watchdog: FBI failed to respond to Nassar allegations with โutmost seriousnessโ
The Justice Department said on Wednesday that the FBI made numerous serious errors in investigating allegations against former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar and didnโt treat the case with the โutmost seriousness.โ
Michigan attorney general ends campus probe tied to Nassar
(AP Photo/David Eggert, File)LANSING, Mich. โ The investigation of Michigan State University's handling of disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar is over because the university has refused to provide thousands of documents related to the scandal, Michiganโs attorney general said Friday. Dana Nessel's announcement came after the university said it would not change its position that the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege. โThe universityโs refusal to voluntarily provide them closes the last door available to finish our investigation,โ Nessel, a Democrat, said. Nassar was a campus doctor who is now serving decades in prison for sexual assault and child pornography crimes. Former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages was convicted of lying to investigators when she said she didn't get complaints about Nassar.
Michigan AG: Michigan State University refuses to release Nassar documents, investigation forced to close
The Michigan attorney general said Michigan State Universityโs refusal to disclose thousands of documents related to the Larry Nassar investigation has forced her office to close its investigation. Attorney General Dana Nessel has led the three-year investigation into the university and its role in Nassarโs crimes -- but in February of this year, Nessel said the investigation was going nowhere. The Universityโs refusal to voluntarily provide them closes the last door available to finish our investigation,โ reads the statement from Nessel. AdAccording to Nessel, the investigation is inconclusive due to the 6,000 documents that have not been released to investigators by the MSU Board of Trustees, citing attorney-client privilege. The attorney generalโs office has no legal options available to it that would allow for review of the material without the MSU Board of Trusteeโs consent.
Lawmakers urge Michigan State University to release Nassar documents in โincompleteโ investigation
Michigan legislators from both sides of the aisle sent a join letter to Michigan State University Thursday requesting thousands of documents related to the Larry Nassar investigation be released. UPDATE: Michigan AG: Michigan State University refuses to release Nassar documents, investigation forced to closeLed by Michigan Reps. Ryan Berman and Julie Brixie and state Sen. Curtis Hertel, a coalition of nearly 50 Michigan state lawmakers are calling on the MSU Board of Trustees to waive privilege for about 6,000 documents that are related to the investigation of former MSU and USA Gymnastics sports physician Nassar. However, the Attorney Generalโs Office cannot complete its investigation without your cooperation and the release of these documents. AdโFull transparency is essential to restoring public trust,โ the legislators wrote to the MSU Board of Trustees. You have the opportunity to ensure this happens.โYou can see the legislatorsโ entire letter to Michigan State University below.
USC agrees to $852 million payout in sex abuse lawsuit
The University of Southern California has agreed to an $852 million settlement with more than 700 women who have accused Tyndall, the college's longtime campus gynecologist, of sexual abuse, officials announced Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)LOS ANGELES โ The University of Southern California has agreed to an $852 million settlement with more than 700 women who have accused the collegeโs longtime campus gynecologist of sexual abuse, the victimsโ lawyers and USC announced Thursday. AdโI am deeply sorry for the pain experienced by these valued members of the USC community," USC President Carol L. Folt said in a statement. Separately, USC earlier agreed to pay $215 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that applies to about 18,000 women who were patients of Tyndallโs. The individual payouts to those victims range from $2,500 to $250,000, and were given regardless of whether the women formally accused Tyndall of harassment or assault.
Why was John Geddert allowed to turn himself in?
The Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline offers anonymous assistance and support without judgement. John Geddert, the former U.S. Olympics coach and former owner of Twistars Gymnastics, killed himself Thursday just hours after he was charged with 24 felonies. READ: Hours after being charged with 24 felonies, former gymnastics coach John Geddert kills himselfGeddert would have faced multiple counts of human trafficking, some involving minors. AdNessel announced the 24 felony charges against the former gymnastics coach at a press conference Thursday afternoon. We later found out he did not turn himself in.โAdThe statement went on to say that having Geddert turn himself in was standard procedure and โWe had no indication that Geddert intended to flee or hurt himself or others.
Court documents outline allegations against John Geddert, charges he faced before he killed himself
John Geddert, the former U.S. Olympics coach and former owner of Twistars Gymnastics, killed himself Thursday just hours after he was charged with multiple felonies. AdREAD: Officials say former gymnastics coach John Geddert was expected to be arraigned same day he kills himselfWho was John Geddert? Court documents outline numerous allegations of verbal, physical, emotional abuse that young women and girls endured because of Geddert. Officials said one survivor reported that between 2010 and 2013, Geddert verbally abused her and controlled what she ate. According to the documents, a survivor told investigators that she was sexually abused by Geddert in the locker room after practice when she was 14 years old.
โYou will have shut the door on the pursuit of justiceโ -- MSU, AG reach stalemate in Nassar investigation
LANSING, Mich. โ Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the investigation into Michigan State University involvement with Larry Nassar is going nowhere. According to the Attorney Generalโs office, the investigation remains inconclusive and nearly 6,000 school documents have not been released to investigators. Nessel sent a letter to the MSU Board of Trustees Wednesday and requested access to the 6,000 documents. โYou will have shut the door on the pursuit of justice,โ Nessel said in the letter. Klages was convicted of lying to a police officer in the Nassar investigation and sentenced to 90 days jail.
Gymnasts, parents react to death of former coach John Geddert
DIMONDALE, Mich. โ After news that former gymnastics coach John Geddert killed himself Thursday, gymnasts and parents are speaking out. Hours before his death, 24 felony charges were filed against Geddert, including 20 counts of human trafficking, six of them involving a minor. READ: Hours after being charged with 24 felonies, former gymnastics coach John Geddert kills himselfAdMeinke was coached by Geddert at a young age at Great Lakes Gymnastics. READ: Officials say former gymnastics coach John Geddert was expected to be arraigned same day he kills himselfAdHowever, the latest scandal reminded Wieber that they were surrounded by criminals at all levels. โI just would have thought John would have thought fought for his innocence and so it made me think โOkay, maybe he wasnโt innocent.โ Who knows but...
Officials say former gymnastics coach John Geddert was expected to be arraigned same day he kills himself
WATERTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich โ A rest area along I-96 in Grand Ledge was shut down for hours, and Michigan State Police and its evidence technicians were called out after the body of John Geddert was found behind a dumpster. Twenty-four charges were filed against the former Olympics coach, who was expected to present himself for an arraignment Thursday afternoon. READ: Hours after being charged with 24 felonies, former gymnastics coach John Geddert kills himselfGeddert was the Team USA womenโs gymnastics coach in the 2012 Olympics. Geddert and Nassar were friends, and the charges against Geddert unveiled on Thursday by Attorney General Dana Nessel are serious -- 24 counts total. โIt is alleged John Geddert used force, fraud and coercion against the young athletes who came to him for gymnastics training for financial benefit to him,โ Nessel said.
Hours after being charged with 24 felonies, former gymnastics coach John Geddert kills himself
LANSING, Mich. โ John Geddert, the former U.S. Olympics coach and former owner of Twistars Gymnastics, killed himself Thursday hours after he was charged with 24 felonies. READ: Former US Olympics coach John Geddert kills himself following announcement of felony chargesPolice confirmed Geddertโs body was found at a rest stop on I-96 in Grand Ledge just after 3:20 p.m. Geddert was expected to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Thursday on 24 felonies, but he did not show up to the hearing. During Nassarโs trial, multiple gymnasts said they held Geddert responsible for Nassarโs abuse and said Geddert had enabled Nassar. Nessel announced the 24 felony charges against the former gymnastics coach at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Former US Olympics coach John Geddert kills himself following announcement of felony charges
GRAND LEDGE, Mich. โ Police have confirmed John Geddert, the former U.S. Olympics coach and former owner of Twistars Gymnastics, killed himself Thursday at a rest stop in Grand Ledge. He was 63 years old. According to the Michigan State Police, Geddertโs body was found at a rest area on eastbound I-96 just after 3:20 p.m.UPDATE: Hours after being charged with 24 felonies, former gymnastics coach John Geddert kills himselfProsecutors filed charges earlier that day in Eaton County against Geddert. READ: Ex-Olympics coach with ties to Nassar faces 20 human trafficking charges among othersAdThe former U.S. Olympics coach had ties to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison -- 40-125 years in Eaton County prison and 40-175 years in Ingham County prison -- after more than 150 victims came forward accusing him of sexual assault. The following felony charges were filed against Geddert:14 charges of human trafficking -- forced labor resulting in injurySix charges of human trafficking of a minor for forced laborOne count of criminal enterprises -- racketeering proceedsOne count first degree criminal sexual conductOne county second degree criminal sexual conductOne count lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigationMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called Geddertโs death โa tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved.โ