Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey deserves part of the blame for the University of Southern California’s sexual abuse scandal for not charging any university employee, says an accuser of a former Los Angeles gynecologist. USC.
Lucy Chi was one of more than 700 victims cited in a $ 852 million deal the university announced on Thursday.
“Part of the reason this happened is because of ex-prosecutor Jackie Lacey’s cozy relationship with the USC,” Chi claimed about the Democrat, according to FOX 11 in Los Angeles. “She graduated from the USC Law School and met with them several times when these charges were made public. She refused to accuse them, repeatedly, while we asked.”
“She refused to charge them, repeatedly, while we asked her.”
Dr. George Tyndall, 74, who has worked as the only gynecologist at the university’s Student Health Center for nearly three decades, faces 35 criminal charges for alleged sexual misconduct between 2009 and 2016. He pleaded not guilty and is on bail.
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey speaks in Los Angeles, January 6, 2020. (Associated Press)
Chi said he believed the school’s administrators were covering their alleged decades of abuse, according to FOX 11.
“Today’s deal, while important, actually makes me a little sad. It’s been almost three years since the LA Times published its report on what George Tyndall did to us for almost 30 years and how the USC covered it up – even while the team at the student clinic exposed him, “said Chi.
“The USC allowed thousands of women to be abused by the gynecologist and, when they found out, covered up, helped and incited all these sexual assaults and no one in the administration, under the leadership of the USC, was held responsible.”
USC AGREES TO PAY $ 852 MILLION IN LEGAL RESOURCES OF SEX ABUSE
People join the Engemann Student Health Center at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on May 22, 2018. (Associated Press)
Hundreds of women came forward to report their allegations to the police, but some of the cases fell outside the 10-year statute of limitations, while others did not reach the level of criminal charges or did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute. Still, Tyndall faces up to 64 years in prison if convicted.
Chi said he expects George Gascon – the current Los Angeles County District Attorney, who defeated Lacey at the polls last year – to bring charges against school officials.
“Now that we have a new prosecutor in office, I hope that prosecutor George Gascón will take us seriously,” said Chi, “if not for justice for the victims, at least to show future predators and those who empower them, that there is a price to pay when you look away and ignore what’s going on. “
Victim Audrey Nafziger noted that in the case of convicted rapist Larry Nassar, who abused hundreds of athletes at Michigan State University, several school officials were indicted.
“No one, other than Dr. Tyndall, has been indicted for anything, and there is a lot of guilt for the crime around here,” said Nafziger.
Dr. George Tyndall hears during his indictment at the Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, July 1, 2019. (Associated Press)
Attorney John Manly, who represented the accusers in the USC settlement, spoke to reporters at a news conference on Thursday.
“I want to make it clear: USC and USC’s senior administrators at the health center and others, knew. The press materials that USC released in 2018 that this was somehow a mystery to them, were a lie. . And we proved it. “
The lawsuits against the university claim that school officials have deliberately concealed Tyndall’s alleged sexual abuse complaints since 2000 and kept him in employment.
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School officials have denied any cover-up and said the school has made policy changes to ensure that the allegations are investigated and the school said it also hired board certified doctors, according to FOX 11.
USC and the DA’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’s requests for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.