Michigan State University will publicly release the findings of an outside investigation into who at the university may have leaked the identity of Brenda Tracy, the rape survivor and advocate who the university found to have been sexually harassed by fired football coach Mel Tucker.
At a board meeting Friday, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee chair Dan Kelly said the law firm Jones Day, which is conducting the investigation, will write a report summarizing its findings which will be publicly released.
The investigation was ordered in September when MSU received a privileged communication from Tracy's attorney accusing "someone associated with MSU's board" of leaking Tracy's identity to local media, forcing her to come forward with her allegations against Tucker.
The probe was initially narrowly focused on finding who, if anyone, was that leak.
MSU has since expanded the scope at the board’s request, asking the firm to also find who leaked the privileged document accusing the person associated with the board of being the leak to The State News.
Jones Day billed $304,555 for its work in September and October, according to invoices obtained by The State News.
The university also spent $190,493 on personal representation for board chair Rema Vassar in the probe.
MSU’s president, athletic director and the other board members did not retain outside counsel for the leak investigation, according to a public records request response from MSU.
Allegations that Vassar had refused to comply with Jones Day’s investigation fueled calls to oust her as chair in October. Vassar has since denied the allegations, saying she eventually decided to fully comply.
She said Friday that the firm presented its preliminary findings to the board and that she was “exonerated” by the investigation.
While the university has ordered a written report from the firm detailing its findings, it’s unclear when it will be completed or released.
Vassar said Friday that the firm has been instructed to start compiling the report and that she hopes it is released as soon as possible.
“As soon as we get it, catch and release,” Vassar said.
Interim president Teresa Woodruff said she hopes the report will be “released soon after the new year.”
