Stephanie Robinson
I have also struggled to believe that doctors have my best interest in mind. This lack of trust has spread beyond doctors to other people, including some friends, family members, teachers, and other authority figures. And to think I even job shadowed you for a day.
date of testimony: January 17th 2018
location of testimony: Lansing, Michigan
age at testimony: 17
Your Honor, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make a statement of impact regarding the abusive actions of Larry Nassar. I understand that this statement is intended for your consideration. However, I would like to take this opportunity to address the defendant as well
Larry Nassar, it’s hard to believe that someone with your level of medical training and expertise decided to take advantage of me, a young woman only 14 years old, the first time I came to you for hip pain. In the past I blamed myself for not knowing what was happening sooner, but now I know it was not my fault.
At first over the three years and dozens of times that I saw you I was confused by your actions. You acted like you cared but really all you were doing was baiting me into your sexually abusive trap.
After the time you offered up your own office for my dad to step out of the room and take a phone call so we were alone in the examination room, I knew how and where you were touching me was not acceptable medical treatment.
I am disgusted by your actions, and that is why I am here today.
Since what you did I have felt anger, fear, sadness, anxiety, frustration, self-consciousness, and unbelievable levels of stress. I have also struggled to trust others. Society teaches us that we should be able to trust doctors, and I thought I could trust you, but instead you abused me. You were not trustworthy, and I have deeply struggled to trust a doctor since your sexually abusive actions occurred.
I have also struggled to believe that doctors have my best interest in mind. This lack of trust has spread beyond doctors to other people, including some friends, family members, teachers, and other authority figures. And to think I even job shadowed you for a day.
At what could have been the height of your career when you could have been a positive role model educating and mentoring the next generation, you chose to use your position of power and trust to fulfill your own sick, selfish desires. You are no longer a doctor.
This whole situation that resulted from your sexually abusive actions against me has been mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting. At first I felt shame and the desire to hide, but now, finally, justice is occurring.
Regarding the court sentence, I believe at the very least a minimum of 40 years should be imposed. However, the reality is with the vast number of known victims and most likely many more who may be afraid to come forward, the maximum sentence should be imposed. May you never hurt or abuse another person again.
While I came to the stand as a victim, I leave as a victor because you do not have the authority anymore and because I am one of the many women who are helping to put you behind bars for the countless crimes that you’ve committed.
And, lastly, I believe my faith in God will help me heal, and I hope that you seek him in your life and ask for his forgiveness, because he is the ultimate judge.
Once again, Your Honor, thank you for your time and for giving me the opportunity to have my voice be heard, to begin the healing in my heart, and to have the truth set us free.
THE COURT: Ma’am, the voices of children should always be heard and at 17 that’s really a powerful statement that you made in coming forward at your tender age, and acknowledging what happened is so very important, because there’s so many more children out there and so many more predators. This one will be behind bars, but your statements go a long way, not just for your healing but to allow others to come forward, because you’re absolutely right, there are so many more who have not come forward, both in this case, I believe, and in many other countless cases, so justice will be done, and that’s why we’re doing this, so that all of your voices may be heard and you can all move forward and that I consider the vastness of what defendant’s actions has done in all of your lives and in your family’s lives.
I hope you learn to trust again. I hope that begins with this court. There are caring adults. There’s a caring community. All of your sister survivors care, and I think that in the long run you all will help each other by being here but also in the future. Your message shows me that you are vastly older than 17 in your understanding and in your ability to speak.
MS. ROBINSON: Thank you.
THE COURT: I’m very proud of you.
MS. ROBINSON: Thank you.
THE COURT: You have nothing to be sad about anymore. He’s gone. You need to live a joyous life. You have the support of your family and this community and I think the world, so we are looking at you as worthwhile, as strong, as able, as confident.
Take those other words you told me that you were feeling, put them away with him. You’ve taken your power back. He has none. Thank you.
MS. ROBINSON: You’re welcome. Thank you.
