EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan State University is authorizing what it says will be an independent investigation of the school's handling of sexual assault complaints against now-imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
The board of trustees unanimously approved the probe Friday. It intends to hire Chicago-based law firm McDermott Will & Emery to investigate and release a public report.
The university has come under criticism for hiring a law firm to conduct an "independent" investigation while the same law firm also defended the school in civil lawsuits. No report has been made public.
The Michigan attorney general office's has been investigating the university and has charged three officials, including former president Lou Ann Simon. Dana Nessel says the university "lacks the credibility necessary to conduct a legitimate investigation."
"Over the past few years, it has launched several investigations including an ‘independent investigation’ conducted by Patrick Fitzgerald in 2016. Unsurprisingly, it has cleared its employees of culpability each time. There is only one way for MSU to regain the public’s trust and that is to waive its privilege and disclose all information in its possession about Larry Nassar to the Department of Attorney General," she said in a statement. "In other words, the University should leave the job of investigating to the professionals."
Trustees say they worked with Nassar victims in recent months to launch the new investigation "to restore trust in this university."
Nassar pleaded guilty to assaulting victims with his hands under the guise of treatment. He treated campus athletes and scores of young gymnasts at his Michigan State office. He also had an international reputation while working at the same time for USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians. Gold medalists Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney, to name a few, are among the survivors.
More than 250 women and girls gave statements in court when Nassar was sentenced. During the sentencing hearings, many accusers described an ultra-competitive gymnastics culture in which authority figures could not be questioned and Nassar was free to abuse young patients year after year. They said they had little choice to see doctors other than Nassar, who was renowned throughout the sport.
During victim impact statements, one woman said when she reported Nassar’s disturbing “treatments” to training staff, she was allegedly told that Nassar was a world-renowned doctor and that his “inter‐vaginal adjustments” were legitimate medical treatments.
Michigan State has denied that anyone covered up Nassar's crimes. But former athletes say various campus staff downplayed or disregarded their complaints about him. The university in May reached a $500 million settlement with 332 women and girls who said they were assaulted by Nassar.