Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar, infamous for sexually abusing numerous Olympic and college female gymnasts, was the victim of a stabbing attack by a fellow inmate at a federal correctional facility in Florida. The incident, which occurred at the United States Penitentiary Coleman, unfolded amidst ongoing concerns about severe staffing shortages within the federal prison system.
Sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, confirmed to The Associated Press that the attack took place on Sunday. Nassar, the doctor at the center of a widespread sexual abuse scandal, was reported to be in stable condition as of Monday.
Details emerging from these sources indicate that Nassar sustained multiple stab wounds to his back and chest. Adding to the concerning circumstances, it was revealed that the two officers responsible for guarding the unit where the “Nassar Doctor” was housed were working mandatory overtime shifts. This reliance on overtime is a direct consequence of the persistent staffing shortages plaguing federal prisons, raising questions about security and inmate safety.
Erin Blayer, a survivor of Larry Nassar’s abuse, listens intently as Michigan Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis addresses the court during Nassar’s sentencing hearing, highlighting the profound impact of the “nassar doctor’s” crimes.
Larry Nassar, the former sports doctor, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence, effectively decades behind bars, following convictions in both state and federal courts. His crimes involved the sexual assault of athletes under the guise of medical treatment while employed at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Further compounding his offenses, Nassar also pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse imagery in a separate legal proceeding.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has been grappling with significant staffing deficits for several years, a problem that gained national attention following the suicide of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a New York federal jail in 2019. Epstein’s death exposed critical vulnerabilities within the system and intensified scrutiny on prison management and security protocols.
A 2021 investigation by the Associated Press shed light on the alarming extent of the staffing crisis, revealing that approximately one-third of correctional officer positions across federal prisons remained unfilled. This shortage has forced prisons to reassign staff from essential roles, such as cooks, teachers, and nurses, to serve as guards, diluting resources and potentially compromising the effectiveness of these vital services. These staffing gaps have also been implicated in hindering emergency responses within prisons, including incidents of inmate suicides, underscoring the dangerous consequences of understaffing.
Larry Nassar, the disgraced doctor, during a court appearance in Lansing, Michigan, where he faced charges related to the sexual assault scandal that shook the sports world and led to significant reforms.
Additional investigations by the AP have uncovered a range of systemic problems within the Bureau of Prisons, including instances of sexual abuse and criminal misconduct, further illustrating the challenges facing the Justice Department’s largest agency. With over 30,000 employees, 158,000 inmates, and an $8 billion annual budget, the Bureau’s vast scale and complex operations present significant management and oversight hurdles.
Colette Peters, the newly appointed director of the Bureau of Prisons, assumed leadership last year with a mandate to address the agency’s multifaceted crises and implement comprehensive reforms. Peters has publicly committed to overhauling outdated hiring practices and enhancing transparency within the bureau. Despite these pledges, persistent issues continue to surface, most recently highlighted by the suicide of Ted Kaczynski, infamously known as the “Unabomber,” at a federal prison in North Carolina.
On the day of the attack on Nassar, the “nassar doctor,” one of the officers assigned to his unit was reportedly working his third consecutive 16-hour overtime shift. The other officer was also working mandatory overtime, marking his second straight day of extended duty. These grueling schedules underscore the immense strain placed on prison staff due to understaffing and raise concerns about officer fatigue and vigilance.
Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly identify Larry Nassar as her abuser, conveyed in a Monday tweet that none of the survivors she had communicated with were celebrating the attack on Nassar. Instead, she expressed a collective sense of grief, stating, “We’re grieving the reality that protecting others from him came with the near-certainty we would wake up to this someday.” Denhollander’s words reflect the complex emotions and lasting trauma experienced by Nassar’s victims, even in the face of this violent incident.
Sarah Klein, another survivor of Nassar’s abuse, articulated that the stabbing incident forces her and other victims to relive the trauma inflicted upon them by Nassar and the institutions that enabled his predatory behavior, including law enforcement agencies that failed to intervene effectively. Klein emphasized her desire for Nassar to serve his full prison sentence, a consequence of the survivors’ courageous testimonies. She firmly stated her opposition to violence and argued that death would be an “easy out” for Nassar, denying him the continued accountability for his heinous crimes.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs into law sexual assault legislation inspired by the Larry Nassar scandal, demonstrating the lasting impact of the “nassar doctor” case on legal reforms and victim protection.
During Nassar’s 2018 sentencing hearing, over 150 women and girls delivered powerful victim impact statements, detailing the abuse they suffered at the hands of the “nassar doctor” under the pretense of medical care. Testimonies revealed that some victims had reported Nassar’s actions to adults, including coaches and athletic trainers, over a period spanning more than two decades of abuse, yet these reports were often ignored or suppressed, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked.
Currently, more than 100 women, including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, are collectively seeking over $1 billion in damages from the federal government. This legal action stems from the FBI’s acknowledged failure to act decisively to stop Nassar after becoming aware of allegations against him in 2015. Despite receiving reports, the FBI did not initiate a formal investigation for months, and Nassar was not arrested until 2016 by Michigan State University police, more than a year after the initial FBI notification.
A Justice Department Inspector General report released in July 2021 concluded that the FBI committed “fundamental” errors in its investigation of the sexual abuse allegations against Nassar. The report criticized the FBI for failing to treat the case with the “utmost seriousness” it warranted, highlighting that more athletes were victimized in the period between the FBI receiving reports and initiating meaningful action.
USA Gymnastics had conducted an internal investigation and its then-president, Stephen Penny, reported the allegations to the FBI’s Indianapolis field office. However, considerable time elapsed before the bureau launched a formal inquiry, contributing to the delay in stopping Nassar’s abuse. The FBI has since acknowledged its conduct as “inexcusable and a discredit” to the agency.
Michigan State University, implicated in missing numerous opportunities to stop Nassar over many years, reached a settlement agreement to pay $500 million to over 300 women and girls who were abused by him. Similarly, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee agreed to a $380 million settlement, reflecting the widespread institutional failures that allowed Nassar’s crimes to persist.
In June 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected Nassar’s final appeal. Nassar’s legal team argued that he was treated unfairly during his 2018 sentencing and deserved a new hearing, citing “vengeful remarks” made by Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who referred to him as a “monster.” While the state Supreme Court acknowledged “concerns” regarding the judge’s conduct, it ultimately upheld the original sentence agreement, bringing an end to Nassar’s legal challenges.
The stabbing of Larry Nassar, the “nassar doctor,” in federal prison serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing repercussions of his crimes and the systemic issues within the prison system itself. The incident has reignited discussions about prison staffing shortages, inmate safety, and the long-lasting impact of Nassar’s abuse on his victims, who continue to grapple with the trauma he inflicted and advocate for accountability and systemic change.
