Larry Nassar must listen to his victims for as long as it takes
By Peter Botte
Too freaking bad.
Vile monster Dr. Larry Nassar sent a handwritten letter to the judge during his sentencing hearing in Lansing, Michigan this week calling for a halt to the testimony against him by dozens of courageous women he admittedly sexually abused, including members of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, saying he's struggling with his "ability to face witnesses these next four days, mentally."
Sorry, Doc, you should be forced to listen to every emotional and heartbreaking account of every victim for as long as it takes, even if officials must wheel you into the courtroom like Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs" or keep your eyes pried open like Malcolm McDowell's insidious Alex character from "A Clockwork Orange."
Perhaps they even should replay the recordings of your victims on a continuous loop while you rot in prison for the rest of your life.
Ex-U.S. Gymnastics doc Larry Nassar says he can't 'mentally' handle listening to victim impact statements. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
A total of 105 victims, as of Thursday, were expected to testify during the four-day sentencing hearing of the former Team USA and Michigan State physician after Nassar cut a guilty plea deal for sexually abusing his patients, many of them gymnasts, in exchange for avoiding trial.
The 54-year-old Nassar already is serving 60 years for child pornography and faces up to 125 additional years in this case, with further charges also pending in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Rightly, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina strongly dismissed any request from Nassar to end such testimony early or any suggestion that he – he! – is struggling to deal with hearing these statements from his victims.
"You may find it harsh that you are here, listening. But nothing is as harsh as what your victims endured for thousands of hours at your hands, collectively," Judge Aquilina said in court on Thursday, according to Yahoo! Sports. "You spent thousands of hours perpetrating criminal sexual conduct on minors. Spending five or six days listening to them is significantly minor considering the thousands of hours of pleasure you had at their hands, ruining their lives."
Athletes and sports figures accused of sexual harassment or assault
"You're sitting here in the witness box not for your entertainment, but so your victims can face you in the eye without turning back constantly. ... Writing this mumbo jumbo doesn't help you, sir."
Judge Aquilina then reiterated to the courtroom that any victim would receive the chance to speak, even those yet to come forward, even if those accounts spill into next week, if necessary.
A statement from former U.S. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney was read by a prosecutor in court on Thursday, saying Nassar's molestation "left scars on my psyche that may never go away."
Maroney initially had been facing a $100,000 fine if she testified because she'd signed a confidentiality agreement as part of a previous financial settlement.
Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina dismisses Larry Nassar's written request. (BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)
But after celebrities such as supermodel Chrissy Teigen pledged to pay Maroney's fine, USA Gymnastics released a statement on Tuesday that it wouldn't seek any financial retribution from the 2012 gold medalist if she spoke publicly about Nassar's abuse.
According to Yahoo, another former U.S. Olympic gymnast, Jamie Dantzscher, continued the gripping testimonies and recounted how Nassar also abused her for several years, including during the 2000 Sydney Games.
Prosecutor Angela Povilaitis reads a statement for victim and gymnast McKayla Maroney during a sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar. (BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)
"How (bleeping) dare you say you're sorry for what you did and the lives you destroyed," Dantzscher said. "You are a pathetic monster that is only sorry that you got caught. I am here, along with the other women, to tell you your days of manipulation are over. We have the power now."
That's something Nassar and everyone else who ever has sexually abused a child needs to hear. For as long as it takes.
OUTTA BOTTE EXPERIENCE
To even out their corner infield situation, the Mets decided to sign a mid-thirties former All-Star with back problems for the other side of the diamond, too?
No, I actually like the Adrian Gonzalez addition as a low-risk insurance hedge on Dom Smith. As long as they still spend for a second baseman, that is.
- The Knicks should be far angrier about their defensive indifference for three quarters on Wednesday against undermanned Memphis than they were about the late "T" called on Courtney Lee.
- Two words for the Jets' offensive coordinator opening: Ben McAdoo.
Here's two more, probably: No thanks.
- Also for our Giants (and Rangers) readers, we're storing away this headline for whenever the day comes that Shurmur must be fired:
Stop coaching, Pat.
- Who's ready for some baseball? Tickets are still available for the annual New York BBWAA Dinner on Jan. 28 at the Sheraton Times Square at nybbwaa.com. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will be appearing together for the first time this winter, plus all of the other MLB award winners and various other current/former Yanks and Mets will be in attendance.
PETE'S PICKS
A few days after Chris Paul and a few Rockets teammates tried to crash the Clippers' post-game locker room, these are my top-5 post-game altercations:
5. TORTS TAKES ON CALGARY
4. SHERMAN GETS SLUGGED (by Trent Williams)
3. CLIFF JOHNSON & GOOSE IN THE SHOWER
(No video available, but here's a link)
2. CARMELO AND KG
1. HAVE ANOTHER DOUGHNUT!
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Here's an actually good use of robots in sports