The Nassar Investigation That Never Made Headlines

After months of court hearings, Larry Nassar, the former Olympic doctor convicted of molesting dozens of young female athletes, has now been sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. The last time Nassar’s abuse came under formal scrutiny, however, incarceration was apparently never considered. When a 2014 Title IX investigation at Michigan State University found no evidence of misconduct, he returned to work at the school, where he continued subjecting students to assault disguised as proper medical treatment.

The Title IX complaint—in which the former MSU student Amanda Thomashow Nassar massaging her breasts and vaginal area during medical examinations—was handled by Kristine Moore, the school’s Title IX coordinator and a full-time MSU employee. Moore, now MSU’s Assistant General Counsel, responsible for protecting the school from legal liability, concluded that Nassar’s behavior was,” a judgment she reached based on interviews with three medical specialists and an athletic trainer. All four personal ties to Nassar, and all four were employed by Michigan State.