Michigan’s attorney general has promised a full investigation into how sports doctor Larry Nassar was able to abuse young women for decades while working at a university in the state.<\/p>\n
“We will meet with every victim,” Bill Schuette said, in a televised statement. “We will listen to them.”<\/p>\n
Nassar was effectively sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for sexually abusing young athletes.<\/p>\n
The university’s president and its athletics director have since resigned.<\/p>\n
Nearly 160 women accused Nassar, 54, of abuse.<\/p>\n
He worked at Michigan State University (MSU) between 1997 and 2016 and also served as national medical co-ordinator for USA Gymnastics (USAG) from 1996 to 2014.<\/p>\n
USAG’s entire 18-member board resigned over the scandal on Friday.<\/p>\n
Multiple molestation complaints from young athletes against the physician were ignored by MSU.<\/p>\n
“It is abundantly clear that a full and complete investigation of what happened at Michigan State from the president’s office down is required,” Mr Schuette declared. “We will put a bright light at every corner of the university.”<\/p>\n
He appointed Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue and former Kent County prosecutor William Forsyth to lead the investigation.<\/p>\n
Mr Forsyth said they would seek to establish how athletes had been complaining about Nassar since the 1990s yet the university had not opened an investigation until 2014.<\/p>\n
“How was he able to engage in this behaviour for over 20 years?” Mr Forsyth asked, flanking Mr Schuette.<\/p>\n
President Lou Anna Simon resigned on Wednesday and Athletic Director Mark Hollis announced his retirement on Friday.<\/p>\n
Asked why he would not stay on, he said it was because he “cared”, CBS News reports.<\/p>\n
“When you look at the scope of everything, that’s the reason I made a choice to retire he now,” said, on the verge of tears. He said he hoped his resignation would help the healing process.<\/p>\n
MSU has named its Vice-President, Bill Beekman, to replace Ms Simon.<\/p>\n
At a university board meeting, Chairman Brian Breslin said it was clear the college had “not been focused enough on the victims”.<\/p>\n
Trustees, he said, wanted to resume discussions with those who had sued the school to “reach a fair and just conclusion”.<\/p>\n
Nassar was sentenced to serve between 40 and 175 years in prison.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"