Former Michigan State volleyball player Jennifer Rood (now Jennifer Rood-Bedford) testified this week at the sentencing hearing of Larry Nassar, a doctor who has admitted to sexually abusing girls under the guise of medical treatment.
Nassar was a team doctor for the United States Olympic Gymnastics team, but had also worked with athletes in a range of sports. He was previously convicted of possessing child pornography and sentenced to 60 years in federal prison. He’s now pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, and as part of the plea deal, each of the 135 women who have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them will have the opportunity to address him directly in court.
Nassar wrote a letter to the judge in the case, claiming that facing his victims was a strain on his mental health. MichiganRadio.org reports that Nassar could withdraw his plea if the judge then sentences him to more than 25-40 years in prison, but the judge elected to stick to the terms of the plea deal, saying that the victims in the case need closure in the form of addressing Nassar directly.
Nearly 100 victims are expected to testify in court over four days. Bedford spoke on Tuesday, recalling that the Michigan State volleyball team would refer to Nassar as the “crotch doc.” She spoke of telling herself to “stop being a baby” when the treatment became uncomfortable. “My first reaction was to question myself. To blame myself,” she said, according to Michigan Radio. Here is some live coverage of Bedford’s testimony:
Next is Jennifer Bedford, who played for Michigan State University volleyball. According to her, the volleyball team referred to #LarryNassar as the "Crotch Doc"
— Michigan Radio (@MichiganRadio) January 16, 2018
When she went to see him, she kept her spandex shorts on. She told herself to "stop being a baby" even when the treatment moved into an uncomfortable area.
— Michigan Radio (@MichiganRadio) January 16, 2018
"My first reaction was to question myself. To blame myself."
— Michigan Radio (@MichiganRadio) January 16, 2018
Her name’s Jenny Rood, not Bedford. Look at the roster. maybe Bedford is her maiden name?
That’s correct, Rood is her maiden name.