The Michigan state attorney general’s office has suspended its criminal probe into Michigan State University’s handling of complaints against former campus sports doctor and convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar, an official said Tuesday.
The move comes as the attorney general’s office has been unable to obtain from the university 6,000 documents protected by attorney-client privilege. The office’s attempts to interview former interim president John Engler have also been stymied, a spokeswoman for the attorney general told The Associated Press.
The nearly two-year investigation led to charges against three former school officials, one of whom was convicted. Two others, including former president Lou Anna Simon, will face a trial.
In February, Michigan State Attorney General Dana Nessel said a judge had reviewed the privileged documents and it did not appear her office would get any additional ones.
Some trustees from the school’s governing board who oppose releasing the documents said doing so could compromise the university’s lawsuit against insurers to help cover a $500 million payout to hundreds Nassar’s victims.
Nessel’s office wants to speak to Engler about campus changes following Nassar’s sex assault scandal. Lawyers for both sides, though, disagree over Engler’s availability to talk.
It is unclear if or when the investigation will resume.
“We appreciate all the time and hard work the Attorney General’s office has put into their investigation over the past two years,” university spokeswoman Emily Gerkin Guerrant said in a statement Tuesday. “MSU has cooperated fully with the inquiry, including handing over all facts associated with the case.”
“We continue making improvements and increasing our education and prevention efforts to make sure this can never happen again,” Gerkin Guerrant said. “Our hearts are with the survivors and their families as they continue their healing as well.”
Over 300 women and girls have accused Nassar of sexual abuse. The disgraced doctor is serving 40 to 175 years in prison on felony criminal sexual conduct charges — on top of another 60-year sentence for child pornography charges.
With Post wires