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State representatives call on trustees to cooperate in AG investigation

October 11, 2019
<p>Lansing Capitol building on Sept. 19, 2019. </p>

Lansing Capitol building on Sept. 19, 2019.

Photo by Connor Desilets | The State News

A dozen Michigan lawmakers signed an open letter calling for the Michigan State Board of Trustees to cooperate with investigators and produce all documents related to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's inquiry into ex-MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar's abuse.

"We’re deeply concerned about the Board’s failure to keep its promise to fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation. We have to and will keep pushing the Board to do the right thing," a Reclaim MSU spokesperson said via email.

The organization spearheaded the effort and began circulating the letter online. As of 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 11, 301 people have added their name.

State representatives who signed the letter include Julie Brixie (D-East Lansing), Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), Darrin Camilleri (D-Woodhaven), Brenda Carter (D-Auburn Hills), Jim Ellison (D-Royal Oak), Alex Garza (D-Romulus), Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit), Kara Hope (D-Mason), Mari Manoogian (D-Bloomington Hills), Yousef Rabhi (D-Ann Arbor), Lori Stone (D-Warren) and Robert Wittenberg (D-Ferndale) have all endorsed ReclaimMSU's letter. State Representatives Triston Cole and Gregory Markkanen voiced support for the investigation, but did not sign the open letter.

"I signed Reclaim MSU's open letter to the board urging them to fully cooperate with the (Attorney General's) investigation and the reason I did that is because I stand with the survivors of sexual assault, not only at MSU but also all across our society," said Brixie. "We really need culture change at MSU, which means that anybody who violates our trust is held accountable before an outside entity is forced to step in to do so."

"The board has not changed their position on waiving privilege.  They have cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s investigation – providing hundreds of documents, texts, emails and data and sitting for numerous interviews. All facts relating to Larry Nassar have been provided to the (Attorney General’s) office," MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant said via email.

The letter calls out trustees Byrum, Ferguson, Foster, Kelly, Mosallam, Schlitching, Scott and Tebay for their alleged lack of cooperation with the Attorney General's office and demands they begin cooperating.

"I think that our students and their families – and really the entire MSU community – deserve nothing less. MSU must demonstrate true responsibility for it's students and their families in order for real healing to begin," said Brixie.

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