Nassar survivor Rachael Denhollander 'beyond disappointed' by Engler choice

The first woman to go public with allegations of sexual abuse by former MSU doctor Larry Nassar said Tuesday she is "beyond disappointed" with the selection of former Michigan Gov. John Engler as interim university president.

"I am beyond disappointed to hear this," Rachael Denhollander said in a Facebook post.

But Denhollander, 33, told the Free Press in an interview Tuesday she will reserve final judgment on Engler until she sees how he acts once he takes office.

"Engler is a deep political insider at MSU," she said in her Facebook post. "At a time the university desperately needs, and survivors pleaded for, outside accountability and leadership, the board chooses one of the most entrenched insiders."

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She said that "despite the board's words about accountability, it is business as usual," and "I sincerely hope the board reconsiders."

Denhollander said that while concerned and disappointed, she will watch to see whether Engler changes the litigation strategy the board had previously adopted, in which it attempted to have lawsuits brought against the university dismissed.

The board has suggested a change in strategy, Denhollander said, but she has yet to see evidence of that. "My hope is that Engler will be the first person to put action behind those words," said Denhollander, who wants the lawsuits sent to mediation.

Denhollander, who began seeing Nassar when she was a 15-year-old gymnast, was the first to allow her name to be used in interviews with the Indianapolis Star following its 2016 exposé about sexual abuse at USA Gymnastics.

"The truth about what Larry has done must be realized to its fullest depth if justice is to ever be served," she told the court during Nassar's recent sentencing hearing in Ingham County Circuit Court.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.