Michigan AG to Review Sexual Assault Claims Against MSU Basketball Players
The Michigan Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into allegations that multiple now-former basketball players sexually assaulted a female student in 2015, her lawyer confirmed Thursday to the Free Press.
Bailey Kowalski also sued Michigan State University, alleging in 2018 that three players raped her in 2015 and that she was discouraged by counseling center staff from reporting what happened. MSU investigators have cleared the players, who have never been named.
Kowalski's lawyer, Karen Truzowski, confirmed that the attorney general's office is now involved. A spokeswoman for that office said she was unable to confirm the development.
A police report was filed last summer in Lansing Township. Lansing Township Chief John Joseph said Thursday the police department and Ingham County prosecutors met this week and decided they didn't have enough resources to investigate and turned it over to the state attorney general's office.
In August, a federal judge rejected MSU's request to dismiss Kowalski' s lawsuit, saying it was "plausible" Michigan State University buried sexual assault claims brought against athletes and allowed its athletic department to deal with those issues outside the normal university process.
February 6th, 2020 at 3:58 PM ^
They really are a couch fire over there.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:06 PM ^
In spite of the fact that it's currently snowing.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
Glad to see that these allegations were investigated in a timely manner...
February 6th, 2020 at 4:56 PM ^
I know the guy is a bad writer, and terrible human being, but should they really be lighting him on fire? He's like their biggest homer.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:14 PM ^
A couch fire ? That's being too kind. I'd like to see that whole athletic program go up in smoke.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:03 PM ^
ESPN's fault
February 6th, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^
I think you mean Bspn #bluewall
February 6th, 2020 at 4:10 PM ^
I honestly don't know how anyone could support MSU athletics at this point.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:13 PM ^
"the police department and Ingham County prosecutors met this week and decided they didn't have enough resources to investigate"
Can someone educate me on this? Maybe it's a normal practice, but police/prosecutors can just punt to the state?
February 6th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
not normal for a single incident. is normal for a face-saving, groveling group of alleged law enforcement agencies who don't want to get sideways in EL. small offices will sometimes punt big cases, messy murders, things like that, to the AG. a single act/incident of CSC (criminal sexual conduct, what its called here in michigan) is probably only sent out if there is a conflict of interest or in this case, as an act of cowardice.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^
My first read of this is a little different - like they don't want to deal with it because they don't want bring the basketball program down. Maybe that's what you're saying. But it seems like hey we're not going to cover for them anymore, but we don't want to bring them down. Cowardly, but at least they're not outright covering things up (like the littering charge for the guy living in Izzo's basement who punched a woman in a bar).
February 6th, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
who the hell are you, oliver douglas from green acres? i see you post on anything from farming to legal matters.
that said, i respect your posts. keep it up.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:49 PM ^
The farmer with a day job thing seems to be more common than I would think. I know a guy in Wisconsin who works in IT and runs a farm on the side. (For any network engineers out there, he's a double CCIE.)
I don't know how he finds the time, but it is a matter of priorities and he apparently doe make money at it most years.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:25 PM ^
I believe XM had a career in law enforcement before his current farm situation. He is a well respected poster on this board.
February 6th, 2020 at 8:33 PM ^
at least one mgoblog lurker, a good friend, calls me 'mr. geen jeans' b/c of the same stuff.
as to life, it has been quite diverse to put it mildly, but so grateful for all it has held, the good and the not-so-good. i'll bore you with stories some day over a beer or three.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
This struck me as odd too. Like, didn’t they already declare that there’s nothing to see here after a thorough investigation?
February 6th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
They don't even have to punt to someone else. Police just have no legal obligation to investigate any particular crime.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:47 PM ^
Shit they are likely as guilty as the school. This is probably a needed punt for all involved. The light is too bright now. I sure hope justice is served.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^
First, his buddy Mark resigns, then he loses at home to PSU, then Twitter upsets him and now this. Izzo is not having a good week.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
I hate Izzo the crybaby/whiner worse than any other college coach including present and former OSU coaches - yes, even Urban Liar.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:27 PM ^
^^^^^^
Whizzo. ( Whiney Izzo ).
February 6th, 2020 at 6:44 PM ^
One of my favorite tshirt:
Izzo Izza Azzo
February 6th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
You hate to see it.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
I just looked at the 2014 and 2015 rosters for MSU. Some interesting names on there who to my knowledge have never really been mentioned before. I'm also assuming this is separate from the Payne/Appling allegations? or related?
February 6th, 2020 at 4:34 PM ^
I think it's separate because those two were no longer at MSU in 2015.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:37 PM ^
Geez, I assumed it was them. I'm not sure if I knew about this incident and it mentally just got caught in the fog of all the disgraceful activity going on up there, or this is something I haven't heard of yet.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:03 PM ^
Is this the rumored Denzel Valentine one?
February 6th, 2020 at 5:23 PM ^
RCMB already spinning this as a witch hunt by scUM fans in the AG's office. Seriously
February 6th, 2020 at 5:47 PM ^
@huntmich, there's your answer to how anyone can support MSU athletics at this point.
February 6th, 2020 at 7:03 PM ^
That's dumb. The Snyder administration and had a lot of Michigan grads but Whitmer does not. They are almost all new with lots of Sparty types.
February 6th, 2020 at 7:18 PM ^
Speaking of RCMB, what a crap site. Terribly designed message boards and half the time I feel like I'm in the middle of a terrible Jerky Boys sequel.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:20 PM ^
And that’s just sad. There are so many sexual assault allegations there it is difficult to keep them all straight.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:43 PM ^
yes, there was also the alleged gang rape a year or so before the payne/appling incident. izzo's basement dweller among others...allegedly.
February 6th, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
No, this is the Valentine incident from 2015 after their final four run.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:27 PM ^
i get that. i was noting an add'l 3rd major incident with the basketball team. i mean, at least 3 reported gang rapes by the basketball team in a 4-5 year span. that is a rape culture.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:41 PM ^
How does any parent send their daughter to that shithole?
February 6th, 2020 at 6:31 PM ^
How does any parent send their son to that shithole?
February 6th, 2020 at 8:43 PM ^
Because for that mindset, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^
Thinking 2 of them are Valentine & Forbes. This came after Appling/Payne rape. Pretty sure Bailey has a civil suit that is going through the motions now as well. It’s been her choice to not name the attackers, so far.
February 6th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
Looking at the roster, my first speculated participant would be Branden Dawson. He had some anger issues to say the least. I recall him breaking his hand slamming it on a table in frustration during a film study session during the season. Was out 4-5 weeks.
February 6th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
"MSU investigators" - Tom Izzo and Mark Hollis
February 6th, 2020 at 5:00 PM ^
Any bets on Izzo deciding about right now is a good time to think about retiring too?
February 6th, 2020 at 7:09 PM ^
Izzo is so done after this season. I had a feeling that he would leave with Cassius. This news, plus Mark's departure, has me certain that MSU fans will be overloading the Flightaware servers this year.
February 6th, 2020 at 10:45 PM ^
....assuming they don't do this....
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February 6th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Cue the Tom Izzo press conference of him taking a lot of bullets this week and playing weird guys again.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:07 PM ^
Poor Tom Izzo! Why do these MEAN girls keep picking on his innocent basketball players?
February 6th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
" I hope they convicted the right guy"
Tom Izzo on the Larry Nassar victims statement proceeding.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:21 PM ^
Time for Izzo to put the ribbon back on to show his support.
February 6th, 2020 at 6:47 PM ^
I am sure Izzo will look like death again like he did in 2018 having to go into full time damage control. Time to hide the skeletons and circle the wagons again boys!!!
February 6th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
Well we just found out why Dantini resigned. His new job with Staee is to take over the "investigation". By George, he'll get to the bottom of this.