FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
February 14, 2018
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Report: Schuette Misled Public About MSU Investigation
Investigation of MSU is not “independent” like Schuette claimed
MICHIGAN — Progress Michigan released the following statement regarding a report by the Detroit Free Press showing that Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette mislead the public about the independence of the special prosecutor he appointed to investigate Michigan State University over the Larry Nassar scandal. Concerns have been raised from the very beginning about Schuette’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation at MSU given his ties to donors, coaches, and leadership.
According to the Detroit Free Press, a January 27th appointment letter signed by Schuette says William Forsyth will “act as my representative” in the investigation and will “serve under my direction and at my pleasure.”
“Bill Schuette has been misleading the people of Michigan about his control over the investigation at MSU. He has been touting this as an ‘independent’ investigation and counsel, but that’s clearly not the case. Schuette has been using the phrase to try to separate himself from the investigation in the eyes of the public to score political points, while still exerting control over it,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Schuette has deep ties to MSU mega donors and John Engler, who has endorsed him for governor, which is why so many people were calling for an independent investigation. Schuette promised that to the people of Michigan and the MSU community, but he’s mislead them about the facts of how this process works. This is the height of Schuette’s shady behavior at a time when transparency and accountability are needed the most.”
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