MSU Trustee Brianna Scott first called for the removal of board chair Rema Vassar in a letter sent to the board Sunday night, alleging she bullied colleagues, interfered in legal disputes and attempted to keep word of her meddling out of an official report about the February campus shooting. Vassar later disputed these claims and accused Scott and two other board members of interfering with the board's work due to "personal grievances."

In the statement, Stabenow described Scott’s allegations as “extremely serious.”

"Chair Vassar has clearly lost the trust of students, faculty, alumni and many of the MSU board members,” Stabenow said. “I sincerely believe it’s in the best interest of the University and our state for her to resign from the board immediately."

She also addressed claims that Vassar refused to comply with the investigation into who allegedly leaked the identity of Brenda Tracy, the rape survivor and advocate accusing former football coach Mel Tucker of sexual harassment.

"For the MSU community to move forward, we need new leadership we can all trust," Stabenow said. "This means board members must comply with all parts of any investigations into the deeply disturbing incidents involving the university over the last few months. It's time for new leadership and a new start for a great school - Michigan State University.”

Blanchard similarly said Vassar's alleged refusal to comply in the leak investigation "raises serious questions of legal and financial liability."

Vassar said she isn’t the only trustee to not hand over their cell phone for the ongoing leak investigation, as Scott claimed. 

“To date, no Board member, including the three trustees manufacturing this distraction, has produced their phones for a forensic review, and that request is part of an ongoing discussion between the Board and Jones Day,” she wrote.

An investigation into Vassar’s alleged conduct was initiated Monday morning and will be conducted by MSU's Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance.