Attorneys for former doctor Larry Nassar, who plead guilty to sexually molesting dozens of young women under the guide of medical treatment, have filed an appeal and are seeking a new judge and sentencing hearing.
The Michigan appellate defender's office filed the paperwork Wednesday morning. In the same court filing, Nassar said he was physically attacked "within a few hours" of being put in with the general population.
The appeal asks the court to reduce the length of his sentence and for Judge Rosemarie Aquilina to remove herself from the case because she is biased against him.
In 2017, Nassar admitted to the crimes, which were committed over a number of years during his employment as a doctor for Michigan State athletics and USA Gymnastics. Several Olympic gymnasts, including gold-medal winners Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas, have disclosed they were among his victims.
Aquilina sentenced Nassar in January in Ingham County (Mich.) Circuit Court to 40 to 175 years. He also faces a 60-year federal prison sentence and a sentence of up to 125 years for his crimes in Eaton County, Mich.
At the time she pronounced the sentence, Aquilina told Nassar that she had "signed (his) death warrant."
The appeal for Nassar, 54, states: "Judge Aquilina was admittedly not an unbiased and impartial judge. Resentencing before a different judge is required," the motion from Nassar's attorneys states.
Attorney Mick Grewal, who represents 111 Nassar survivors, said his clients would be prepared to testify against the former doctor, if necessary, but blasted the appeal.
"For a narcissistic, convicted pedophile to put these women through this again is horrible," Grewal said Wednesday.
To date, Nassar has not filed appeals to the federal or Eaton County sentences.
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