Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Sign Up

Sign Up

Please fill this form to create an account.

Already have an account? Login here.

Posted: 2019-12-25T20:03:31Z | Updated: 2019-12-25T20:03:31Z

LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigans attorney general on Wednesday said her communications directors statement announcing the suspension of a nearly two-year criminal investigation into Michigan State Universitys handling of complaints against serial sexual abuser Larry Nassar was inadvertently misleading.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a written statement that the investigation is ongoing.

The probe, which began under Nessels predecessor, has resulted in charges against three former school officials. One was convicted. Two others, including former president Lou Anna Simon, were ordered to trial. Their cases will continue to be prosecuted.

A recent comment from our communications director regarding our departments investigation ... was inadvertently misleading and demands clarification, Nessel said in the statement. For the record, I remain deeply committed to finding the truth about who knew what about Larry Nassar at MSU.

The communications director, Kelly Rossman-McKinney, said Tuesday that investigators wanted the university to waive attorney-client privilege on more than 6,000 documents, and that they hope to interview former interim president John Engler, who took over following Simons resignation.

Nessel emphasized Wednesday that her office is at an impasse with MSU over the documents. She added that the depth and breadth the university has gone to in withholding those documents only increases our fervor to obtain them.

Let me be clear: Despite this impasse, we are committed to continuing to pursue MSUs role in the Larry Nassar tragedy, Nessel said in her statement.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press later Wednesday, Rossman-McKinney said she was mistaken to use the word suspended in speaking with reporters the day before. She said she should have stressed the deadlock over obtaining the MSU documents.

At minimum, I should have used temporarily suspended. Impasse is more precise, she said. It was humbling but an important lesson that words really do matter. ... Its important to get the message straight.

The attorney general also said her departments report on the case was incomplete.

We are committed to pursuing the answers to the questions left unanswered in that report, Nessel said.

The schools governing board infuriated Nassar victims this year after dropping a promised independent review of sex assaults committed by Nassar, a former campus sports physician who also worked for USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

The trustees deadlocked over releasing the documents, though many now are personally reviewing them. Some said releasing privileged information would jeopardize the universitys lawsuit against insurers to help cover a $500 million payout to hundreds of victims and related legal costs.

Earlier this year, Englers lawyer and an attorney in Nessels office were at odds over his availability to speak with investigators. The attorney generals office had wanted to talk to Engler about campus changes after the sex-assault scandal involving Nassar, who molested athletes under the guise of treatment. Engler was interim president for about a year until resigning amid fallout over remarks he made about some victims.

MSU has cooperated fully with the inquiry, including handing over all facts associated with the case, university spokeswoman Emily Gerkin Guerrant said in a statement Tuesday.

She said the school has been investigated and reviewed by more than a dozen other entities and governments.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Nassar is effectively serving life in prison for possessing child pornography and sexually assaulting athletes, mostly female gymnasts, at Michigan State and Twistars. Olympians said he also molested them in Texas and overseas.

___

Tarm reported from Chicago.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost