Former Gymnastics Doctor Pleads Guilty to Molestation Charges.
HILL: A former USA gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar, pleading guilty to seven counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, admitting to using his authority to sexually abuse underage girls.</s>LARRY NASSAR, FORMER USA GYMNASTICS DOCTOR: For all of those involved, I'm so horribly sorry that this was like a match that turned into a forest fire out of control. And I pray the rosary every day for forgiveness. I want them to heal. I want this community to heal. I have no animosity towards anyone. I just want healing. It's time.</s>HILL: Joining me now, Rachael Denhollander, who is a former gymnast and also the first woman to come forward to say she was abused by Nassar. Rachel, it's good to have you back with us this morning. When you hear those words from Larry Nassar, he wants you to heal. What do you think about all those things he just said?</s>RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER, ACCUSES DR. LARRY NASSAR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: You know, I think it really reveals Larry's psychological state if you listen to the full, quote/unquote, apology. What Larry was really doing is to shifting focus back on himself, attempting to make it look like he had done something very grandiose, very noble, to plea guilty so the community can move forward. Larry is a consummate manipulator. He is a consummate narcissist. And I don't think that apology reveals anything but his psychological state.</s>HILL: You came forward quite courageously I would say and have since then a number of people have come forward as well. You've also been very clear in calling out others who you've believed enabled Larry Nasser. And you did more of that yesterday, speaking after his plea deal, speaking specifically about what you feel the culture was that enabled this. Give us a sense, why you think this was able to happen to so many people for so long?</s>DENHOLLANDER: You know, it's really the same old story. It's the same story you see at Penn State. It's the same story you see in the Catholic Church. It's people in authority who are surrounding the abuser, who respond to victim's disclosure of abuse by silencing the victims, who ignore red flags, who just utterly fail the children under their protection. And you really do see both of these dynamics at USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State University. As far as USA Gymnastics is concerned, this is much, much deeper than Larry Nassar. The entire lesson Larry was able to be out of cover was because the "Indianapolis Star" published an explosive report that details USA Gymnastics' abhorrent failure in reporting sexual abuse. We had a policy of not reporting. They had very files on 54 abusive coaches over a 10-year period. Steve Penny, the then-president of USA Gymnastics, even testified under oath and defended this policy of not reporting saying he wanted to, quote/unquote, avoid a witch-hunt. And USAG has stuck by their policy and they continue to defend it, and you don't see any different dynamic at</s>MSU. HILL: We should point out a response. USA Gymnastics has said and I'm pulling this, because I have to be quite honest, my eyes are failing me here, we're committed to further developing a culture that has safe spot as a top priority throughout the organization. That's what we're hearing from them. From Michigan state. The plea deal and conviction of Larry Nassar represents another step towards justice for the victims. We have heard now from Gabby Douglas most recently this week. We've heard from Aly Raisman. Aly Raisman tweeting out, talking about his plea deal, and frankly saying she's beyond disgusted that a decorated and Olympic and USA gymnastics doctor was able to prey upon so many over such a long period of time. Until we fully understand the flaws in the system that allowed this happen in the first place, and enable to continue to for decades, we can't be confident it won't happen again, which is exactly what you have spoken to, Rachel. And yet, as you point out, parents entrust their children from a very young age. And you were one of them, as were all these other gymnasts were hearing from, and the parents can't always be there. So, what do you see that could actually change? Is it simply having more parents around? Is it changing the way things are handled and reported? How much more needs to change?</s>DENHOLLANDER: You know, there is 100-page report that details things USAG should have done differently. And with MSU, you see these examples over and over again too. You had athletes coming forward in 1997, in early 2000s. In 2014, who were saying, this is what Larry is doing. Something is wrong. And each and every time, MSU officials assure these young girls, no, no, this is medical treatment. And so, you see the overall attitude toward sexual assault at MSU. And when I came forward, the dean of the college of osteopathy actually mocked my statements. He sent an email to the provost to MSU, laughing about how my testimony was the cherry on the cake of his day. And he immediately sent an e-mail back to Larry saying, good luck. I'm on your side. So, that's the attitude you really see in MSU towards sexual assault. And, you know, both organizations said we're going forward. We want to be a safe place. But until they can acknowledge what they have done wrong, I have no hope that they are really moving forward. In regards to that USAG report that details 100 pages worth of things they should have done differently, you know, these recommendations are very common sense. One of them is just simply to report child abuse, to have a mandatory reporting policy. If you are on a board of directors for an athlete and child-focused organization, and you have to pay an investigator to come in and tell you that you need to report the sexual abuse of little children, you have no business being on that board.</s>HILL: I couldn't say it better myself. Rachael, we appreciate you speaking out this morning. Appreciate everything you have done to bring this story to light. We'll continue to stay on it as well. Thank you.</s>DENHOLLANDER: Thank you.</s>CUOMO: Important interview. Can't lose sights of those kind of stories.</s>HILL: She is an incredibly brave woman.</s>CUOMO: Yes, well done, well done. Thankful for people like that.</s>HILL: Absolutely.</s>CUOMO: On a day like today.</s>HILL: On this Thanksgiving Day.</s>CUOMO: All right. We have a lot of big stories, including a Texas congressman saying that he is the victim of revenge porn, an explicit photo of him now on social media. Who put it there? Why they put it there and his plans to fight back.</s>HILL: And as Chris pointed out, it is Thanksgiving, but it wouldn't be Thanksgiving, or wouldn't be complete anyway if not for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.</s>CUOMO: Angry bird. I wonder if the bird walking across your screen should be angry or at least scared.