Investigation Into Michigan State University Larry Nassar Scandal Concludes

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has closed the investigation into Michigan State University’s handling of the Larry Nassar scandal, citing no new incriminating evidence in the recently released documents.

At a Glance

AG Nessel closed the investigation after reviewing 6,014 new documents from MSU.
No new incriminating evidence was found in the documents.
MSU was accused of improperly withholding documents, citing attorney-client privilege.
Survivors have called for further independent investigations into MSU’s ethics and conduct.
A public portal will be set up to view all reviewed documents.

Investigation Closure and Document Review

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced the closure of the investigation into Michigan State University’s handling of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal. The decision comes after the review of 6,014 new documents provided by MSU in March and April of this year. These documents, previously withheld under claims of attorney-client privilege, were found to contain information on public relations, insurance, and funding, which Nessel described as “embarrassing,” yet not “incriminating” for the university.

The investigation, initially requested by the MSU Board of Trustees in 2018, faced numerous hurdles due to conflicts between the Attorney General’s office and MSU’s legal team over the release of key documents. Despite MSU’s claim of full cooperation, providing over 100,000 documents, the withholding of these additional 6,000 documents delayed the investigation’s progress and accountability for Nassar survivors.

'This is a disappointing close to our years-long investigation into the abuse that hundreds of young women were subjected to,' Nessel said.https://t.co/78oSmkIWos

— Detroit Metro Times (@metrotimes) September 11, 2024

Surprising Lack of Incriminating Evidence

In a surprising turn of events, Nessel expressed her astonishment at the lack of incriminating evidence found in the newly released documents. The Attorney General’s office had anticipated that the withheld documents would contain more concerning information about MSU’s handling of the Nassar case.

“It was surprising to me that we did not find anything that was incriminating,” Nessel said during a news conference on Wednesday. “It seems sort of improbable to us, right?”

This statement reflects the widespread expectation that a major university with numerous employees would have left more of a paper trail regarding such a significant scandal. The lack of concrete evidence raises questions about how Nassar’s abuse could have continued for so long without intervention.

MSU’s Response and Ongoing Controversy

MSU has consistently maintained that no one at the school concealed Nassar’s abuse. University spokesperson Emily Guerrant defended the institution’s stance on document disclosure, stating, “Throughout the course of the investigation, MSU has fully complied with the attorney general’s office and has provided more than 100,000 documents related to facts surrounding the entirety of the case. The university maintains that our interpretation and application of the attorney-client privilege was appropriate, as determined by East Lansing District Court Judge Richard Ball in 2019.”

However, the Attorney General’s office has criticized MSU’s approach, stating in their summary, “This review does not give us reason to revise our prior statements that MSU ‘circled the wagons’ and ‘stonewalled’ when it came to providing us with the promised full cooperation in our investigation.”

Looking Forward: Public Access and Survivor Advocacy

As the investigation closes, the Attorney General’s office has announced plans to set up a public portal for viewing all reviewed documents. This move towards transparency aims to provide the public and survivors with access to the information gathered during the investigation.

Survivors of Nassar’s abuse, including Kaylee Lorincz and Rachael Denhollander, have called for further independent investigations into MSU’s ethics and conduct. Their advocacy efforts continue to focus on improving MSU’s handling of abuse situations and enhancing campus safety and culture.

“This is a disappointing close to our years-long investigation into the abuse that hundreds of young women were subjected to over the course of more than a decade,” said Nessel. “While I appreciate that MSU eventually cooperated, the withheld documents provided victims with a sense of false hope, for no justifiable reason.”

As the Nassar scandal fades from headlines, the impact of the survivors’ activism continues to resonate, driving broader cultural changes in addressing abuse and institutional accountability.