Serial sexual abuser Larry Nassar accused the judge presiding over his case of conducting a “four-day sentencing media circus” for her own benefit, according to a letter read aloud in court Thursday.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina read parts of the letter and then defended her role in conducting the victim impact statements.
“She wants me to sit in the witness box next to her for all four days so the media cameras will be directed toward her,” Nassar wrote in the letter, according to Aquilina.
Nassar, the former renowned doctor for USA Gymnastics, pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County in Michigan. As part of his sentencing, about 100 victims have spoken or will speak in court about Nassar’s abuse and the impact it has had on their lives.
In the letter, Nassar wrote that he passed out twice on the morning of federal sentencing, and he said he was worried that he could not handle the continued victim impact statements.
“Aquilina said if I pass out she’ll have the EMTs revive me and then prop me up in the witness box,” Nassar wrote, according to Aquilina.
The judge said Nassar’s letter was “mumbo-jumbo” and delusional.
“This isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. There’s no truth in here. It’s delusional,” she said.
“You need to talk about these issues with a therapist. Contrary to CNN’s headline, I’m not a therapist,” she said, referring to an article describing her empathetic demeanor toward the victims as they gave their statements.
