On day two of ex-MSU and USA Gymnastic doctor Larry Nassar's sentencing in Eaton County, Randall Margraves, father of three survivors lunged at Nassar from across the courtroom.
After his two daughters, Lauren and Madison Rae Margraves, read their impact statements, he asked Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham for five minutes alone with Nassar. When she refused, he asked for "just one minute alone with that bastard."
When Cunningham told Randall Margraves she cannot allow an encounter like that to happen, he rushed across the room to confront Nassar.
Three of his daughters, Morgan, Lauren and Madison, are survivors of Nassar's abuse. Morgan read her impact statement in Ingham County, while Lauren and Madison read theirs Friday in Eaton County.
Randall Margraves was tried for contempt in court around noon.
Cunningham said she could never understand how a parent must feel in this situation.
"My heart does go out to you and your family for what you've gone through," she said.
Randall Margraves said he was not aware of what was in his daughters' impact statements until they were read aloud in court. He said hearing his daughters' words and watching Nassar shake his head while they were speaking led him to almost attacking Nassar.
Cunningham didn't charge Randall Margraves. She accepted his apology.
“No one should do what he did today,” Mike Grewal, Randall Margraves' attorney, said during a press conference Friday. “We live in a civilized society and he understands that justice will be served when Judge Cunningham issues her sentence on Monday.”
Grewal said Margraves' frustrations are towards those who enabled Nassar to abuse women and girls for years.
“His frustrations are actually towards the system of enablers: Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, Twistars (Gymnastics Company),” he said. “These girls shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here. These enablers still have failed to apologize.”
Grewal said the GoFundMe page set up Friday in support of Randall Margraves, which has raised nearly $16,000, was not authorized and Grewal asked for it to be taken down.
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Editor's note — This article was last updated at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 2. to include comment from Randall Margraves' attorney and to include information about the GoFundMe page.
This article was also updated at 1:15 p.m. on Feb. 2. The first and second paragraphs were re-worded.
