Jackie Lacey, a former Los Angeles County district attorney, deserves some of the blame for the University of Southern California sexual abuse scandal for not filing charges against college officials, a former USC gynecologist prosecutor claims.
Lucy Chi was one of more than 700 victims named in an $ 852 million settlement announced by the university on Thursday.
“Part of the reason this happened is because of former DA Jackie Lacey’s good relationship with USC,” Chi claimed of the Democrat, according to FOX 11 of Los Angeles. “She graduated from USC Law School and met them several times when these allegations came out. She refused to incriminate them over and over when we asked her to.”
“She refused to accuse them again and again, when we asked her to.”
Dr. George Tyndall, 74, who worked as the sole gynecologist at the university’s student health center for nearly three decades, faces 35 criminal counts of alleged sexual misconduct between 2009 and 2016. He pleaded not guilty and is released on bail.
Jackie Lacey, former Los Angeles County district attorney, speaking in Los Angeles, Jan. 6, 2020. (Associated Press)
Chi said she believes school administrators are providing coverage for his alleged decades of abuse, according to FOX 11.
Today’s arrangement, while important, actually brings me quite a bit of grief. It’s been nearly three years since the LA Times published their report on what George Tyndall did to us for nearly 30 years and how USC covered it up – even while staff in the student clinic exposed him, ”Chi said.
“USC allowed thousands of women to be abused by the gynecologist and when they found out, they covered it up, helped and assisted in all those assaults and no one in the administration, in leadership at USC has been held accountable.”
USC AGREES TO PAY $ 852 MILLION IN LAW PACKAGE ON SEX ABUSE
People enter the University of Southern California’s Engemann Student Health Center in Los Angeles, May 22, 2018. (Associated Press)
Hundreds of women came forward to report their charges to the police, but some cases fell outside the 10-year statute of limitations, while others did not reach the level of criminal charges or had insufficient evidence to prosecute. Still, Tyndall will face 64 years in prison if convicted.
Chi said she hopes George Gascon – the current Los Angeles County district attorney who defeated Lacey in the polls last year – will press charges against school officials.
“Now that we have a new prosecutor, I hope that the prosecutor George Gascón will take us seriously,” said Chi, “if it is not about justice for the victims, at least to show future predators and those enabling them, that there is a price you have to pay if you avert your eyes and ignore what is happening. ”
Victim Audrey Nafziger noted that in the case of convicted rapist Larry Nassar, who assaulted hundreds of athletes while at Michigan State University, several school officials were charged.
“No one, except Dr. Tyndall, has been charged with anything, and there’s plenty of criminal guilt here,” Nafziger said.
Dr. George Tyndall listens during his arraignment at the Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, July 1, 2019. (Associated Press)
Attorney John Manly, who represented prosecutors in the USC settlement, spoke at a news conference with reporters on Thursday.
“I want this to be clear: USC and USC senior administrators at the health center and otherwise knew. The press material USC published in 2018 that this was somehow a mystery to them was a fucking lie. we have proven. “
Lawsuits against the university allege that school officials deliberately concealed complaints about Tyndall’s alleged sexual abuse as far back as 2000 and kept him working.
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School officials have denied any cover-up saying the school has made policy changes to ensure claims are investigated and the school said it also has hired female board-certified doctors, according to FOX 11.
USC and the district attorney’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’ requests for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.