Nassar deemed ‘serial’ sex abuser; investigations will continue

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Michigan State University president’s resignation was the tip of the iceberg. A look at the fallout from the sports doctor scandal:

Wire Reports

LANSING, Mich. — Once-renowned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar listened silently as a prosecutor deemed him “possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history” and a judge sentenced him to decades in prison for molesting some of the sport’s top athletes, capping an extraordinary hearing during which more than 150 women and girls described his abuse.

“I just signed your death warrant,” Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar, who was sentenced Wednesday to 40 to 175 years for molesting young female athletes under the guise of giving medical treatment.

Many confronted Nassar face to face in the Michigan courtroom, describing abuse in his home, at his Michigan State University office and while he worked for the sport’s governing body, USA Gymnastics, which also trains Olympians.

“It is my honor and privilege to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again,” said Aquilina, who called his actions “precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable.”

Hours later, Michigan State — which has asked the state attorney general to conduct a review of how the university handled the Nassar case — announced President Lou Anna Simon’s resignation amid mounting pressure. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s CEO announced an independent inquiry.

And the fallout does not end there.

Numerous people have been fired or forced out of jobs in the wake of the scandal.

As outside investigations continue, more people could lose jobs at the university and elsewhere. Here’s a look at some of the individuals or organizations that have been ousted, opted to quit, taken leaves or had ties cut:

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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

— Lou Anna Simon: The president faced growing pressure to resign from students, lawmakers and some members of the university’s governing board. The school and several current or former employees are being sued by dozens of women.

— Kathie Klages: The former gymnastics coach resigned last year after she was suspended for defending Nassar over the years. Klages is accused of downplaying complaints made by two teens in 1997.

— Brooke Lemmen: The former school doctor resigned last year after learning the university was considering firing her because she didn’t disclose that USA Gymnastics was investigating Nassar.

— William Strampel: The former dean of MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, who has been named in lawsuits, announced in December that he was taking a leave of absence for medical reasons. University officials said then he would no longer be dean but remains a faculty member.

— Sue Carter: The faculty’s athletic representative resigned Wednesday, saying she “could no longer be part of an administration that was not in full grasp of the damage done to the girls and women and to the institution itself.” She was the representative to the NCAA and Big Ten since 2014, appointed by Simon.

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USA GYMNASTICS

— Three top board members resigned this month after calls from angry gymnasts who say the organization did nothing to protect them after they were abused by Nassar. Chairman Paul Parilla, vice chair Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley announced they were stepping down. The board positions are volunteer and unpaid.

— Steve Penny: The former president and CEO resigned under pressure last March and was replaced by Kerry Perry, who took over December.

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TWISTARS GYMNASTICS CLUB

— John Geddert: The owner of the Michigan club was suspended by USA Gymnastics and announced his retirement. He was U.S. women’s coach at the 2012 Olympics. Nassar pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting seven people, three of whom were girls at Twistars, but more than 150 women and girls came forward at his sentencing hearing to describe molestations. Geddert said he had “zero knowledge” of Nassar’s crimes.

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KAROLYI RANCH

— USA Gymnastics said earlier this month that the ranch outside Huntsville, Texas, would no longer serve as the national training center where a number of gymnasts said Nassar abused them.

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