LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — State Senators Margaret O’Brien and Tonya Schuitmaker participated in a roundtable discussion with other lawmakers Tuesday afternoon to hear the stories of Gymnasts Rachael Denhollander and Sterling Riethman, who were both victims of Dr. Larry Nassar, the official team doctor for the Michigan State University and the U.S. Olympic teams.
The goal was to discuss the importance of preventing sexual assault and explore additional actions that can be taken here in Michigan.
“I admire the courage of the women who stepped forward to share their horrific experiences,” Senator O’Brien said. “It is important that our laws protect those who are most vulnerable, including our children.”
Senator Tonya Schuitmaker agreed. “These young women were victimized by someone they trusted,” said Schuitmaker, R-Lawton. “This meeting was yet another eye-opening experience for many of us sitting at the table. While we’ve gone to great lengths to provide protections for victims of sexual assault in recent years, there is still more that needs to be done, especially on college campuses.”
Denhollander, a native of Kalamazoo, was the first victim to file a police complaint about the practices of Larry Nassar, which opened a floodgate of complaints.
Now over 125 women have filed civil complaints that they also were subjected to what they were told were “medical procedures” that actually turned out to be sexual molestation.
