Viraldice: Larry Nassar Sentenced to 175 Years After Decades of Gaslighting Girls and Families

oday, former "Olympic doctor" Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting over a 160 girls and women, many of them current or former top tier athletes. This is in addition to the 60 years he's currently serving for child pornography. Presiding judge Rosemarie Aquilina declared, "I just signed your death warrant," as the sentence was read.

This GIF of Judge Aquilina throwing away the letter Larry Nassar wrote the court about how hard it is for him to listen to victim testimonies PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL. pic.twitter.com/5HB9WMaPqU

— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) January 24, 2018

Nassar’s sentence comes after an unprecedented week-long hearing, during which 89 of his victims explained, many in graphic detail, the effects that Nassar’s molestation had on their lives.

These are the testimonies of more than 100 women who were sexually abused by a doctor. Their powerful statements have led to Larry Nassar being sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/1MxqjKIJAL

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 24, 2018

Woman after woman detailed the trauma Nassar’s actions inflicted personally, as well as their struggle to get others to believe them. In fact, the father of one woman, Kyle Stephens, tragically ended his life after he discovered she’d been telling the truth for years, and he hadn’t believed her.

“Had he not had to bear the shame and self-loathing that stemmed from his defense of Larry Nassar, he would have had a fighting chance,” Stephens said.

 

But how was Nassar able to continue his predations for so long? And why was it so difficult to believe his victims even when they came out, one after another, year after year?

The answer lies in Nassar himself.

BREAKING: Judge sentences former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 40-175 years in prison.

Over 160 women have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them. pic.twitter.com/f1tGitAtkF

— AJ+ (@ajplus) January 24, 2018

Nassar, was, by all accounts, a seemingly pleasant and affable man, who “used his charm and his position as national team doctor to make everyone his gossip buddy, his special friend, his best pal.” This is according to Lauren Hopkins, editor in chief of The Gymternet, and a longtime confidante of Nasser’s.