The years-long investigation by the Michigan Attorney General's Office into Michigan State University's (MSU) involvement with former doctor Larry Nassar has concluded, revealing a complex ensemble of hidden documents and misused attorney-client privilege claims. Attorney General Dana Nessel's office has announced the closure of the state's probe, which consisted of a thorough review of over 6,000 documents initially withheld by MSU. These documents, according to the official statement from the Michigan Department of Attorney General, did not provide new insights into the handling of Nassar's abuse allegations but rather underlined the significant delays in transparency.
Nessel addressed the disappointing end to the investigation, saying, "Simply put, there remains no fulfilling answer to the question of how this abuse was able to be perpetuated on so many, for so long, without MSU, or anyone else, putting a stop to it." This sentiment echoes the frustration highlighted by the Michigan Department of Attorney General, which detailed Nessel's critique of MSU's misuse of the attorney-client privilege during a news conference about the investigation's findings. Some of the withheld documents were discovered to have indeed been not covered by this privilege, revealing unnecessary impediments to the pursuit of transparency and justice.
Starting in 2018 under former Attorney General Bill Schuette, the investigation was an effort to scrutinize MSU's response to Nassar's actions, who in 2017 alone, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and child pornography. Nassar, having been a highly regarded sports medicine doctor at MSU and USA Gymnastics, was sentenced effectively to life in prison, as reported by clickondetroit. The scrutiny extended beyond the university to the FBI, with the Justice Department finding failure in the agency's handling of allegations against Nassar.
In light of the investigation's outcome, unjust delays are not merely about documents and legal technicalities, they're about survivors like Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of abuse. According to the Lansing State Journal, Denhollander criticized the time it took for these documents to surface, reflecting on what she perceives as a broader cultural problem at MSU. She insisted on the importance of an independent investigation into the university's culture and policies, which might help address the root causes that enabled abuse to thrive unchecked.
Despite the investigation's closure, Nessel commends the survivors for their unwavering pursuit of justice, believing that their efforts have led to systemic changes and a cultural shift in the perception of sexual abuse on campuses and within courtrooms across the nation. In a statement obtained by the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Nessel praised the survivors: "Your advocacy, resilience and your strength have left this world a better place. And while this may not be the justice you sought; I do believe the changes in how we treat sexual abuse on campuses and in courtrooms alike is a form of justice that will impact generations to come all across the nation.” To facilitate ongoing public inquiry, a digital archive of the investigative documents is to be made publicly accessible, although it may take up to an additional year to become available due to the vast number of documents requiring redaction and standardization for accessibility.
