OT: Michigan AG has police seize evidence from MSU re Nassar
NBC reporting that Michigan AG had the State Police seize evidence today from MSU. Interim MSU President Engler spokesman then accuses AG Schuette of election politics given his run for governor, commenting that "[s]omebody’s playing politics. It lets us know what we are in for.”
[T]he AG’s office demanded emails and texts for a raft of MSU officials, from trustees down to sports trainers, be turned over by Feb. 9., but some items it demanded immediately, according to NBC's report.
This scenario underscores the importance of Brian's well-done "Looking Internally" articles, with 3 basic concepts in mind:
1. DO THE RIGHT THING. ALWAYS. It's not a cliché, it makes miserable situations less miserable when you can at least emerge with your integrity intact and hopefully having helped others;
2. DON'T STONEWALL AND TRY TO HIDE. It almost inevitably will blow up in your face...even if you don't actually have anything to hide, people will assume you do and that you're guilty. Worse, when trust is lost, people do things...like storm your offices, which was probably not fun; and,
3. DON'T DRAG THINGS OUT UNNECESSARILY. Would MSU have perhaps responded more expeditiously had they known they would find themselves not far removed from having a former governor serving as interim president, his preceding governor as interim vice president, an AG running for governor investigating you, and a former prosecutor linked to the very scandal you're embroiled in running for governor as well? That's a fairly undesirable scenario for a plethora of obvious reasons.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the young athletes impacted by this man and anyone who empowered him, as we've been naively surprised and saddened at the number of lives with whom we've crossed paths and who have been directly impacted by his actions. Also, contra mundum submitted a very poignant post from a very personal and insightful perspective for those who haven't found it yet.
Link is below, but cannot be embedded (to my knowledge) from Android mobile:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-ag-has-police-seize-evide…
February 3rd, 2018 at 8:02 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 8:14 AM ^
Huh... I'm kinda surprised that the AG did that because of all the 'good ol boy' handshaking thats been going on. Almost feels like it was staged, complete with Engler whining about politics. Tin foil hat? Maybe. But all of the connections at the top of this thing are going to keep me wondering about the veracity of this entire investigation. Until I see the entire school under the light - not just the AD - I'll be skeptical. Until I see the campus police and Ingham County prosecutors office under a light, I'll be skeptical.
If I were Whitmer, I'd be singing about those connections all day long...
February 3rd, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
Wouldn't shock me, but MSU has repeatedly lied on Nassar. They should have the info ready to go by now and if they don't they should work overtime getting it...but that is the problem, MSU doesn't get it...they are still dragging their feet and being tone deaf.
February 3rd, 2018 at 2:35 PM ^
They are doing the only thing they can do at this point. Stonewall and hope it goes away. if it doesn't go away, sacrifice everyone involved with Nassar in an effort to take the spotlight off of the cash cows. If I were their attorney, that would be my strategy at this point. Sad but true. They will get away with it. Also sad but true.
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
Georgetown Bulldog and University of San Francisco (JD) graduate. He has not ties to the state universities. Sounds like the fit is hitting the shan! 
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:13 AM ^
My issue with Schuette is that Dantinio wrote the Forward to his book. They all seem to be related... I mean, with the financial stratoshpere these guys live in, I'm sure they have some ties to UM, also. So I don't think there's any way around it, short of going outside the MSU 'family' - which they've all shown they want nothing to do with.
Which is incriminating in its own right...
February 3rd, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
I wouldn't say he has no ties to the university. Dantonio wrote the foreword to Scheutte's autobiography and he gets campaign donations from many MSU big wigs including some that he may have to investigate.
Every Spartan is fine with a Nassar investigation, at least as of today if not in the past. Will they be fine with a serious investigation into Izzo or Dantonio?
February 3rd, 2018 at 8:20 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
for Michigan State athletics. There is no favorable outcome if an official investigation is launched into the handling of the Walton case and the Appling-Paine alleged rape. The public comments of the beating victim make it hard to imagine this case could be overlooked in the face of a special counsel investigation, especially in an election year, whether off-year or not.
I don't know how either Izzo or Dantonio survives if an investigation details the pattern of Title IX abuses that have been publicly alleged in both prior news reporting and police investigations. I just see this ending badly and I hope that I am wrong, for Michigan is better off when counterbalanced by formidable in-state competition.
By appointing Engler as interim president, the MSU board signaled it is indeed playing politics with the matter by seeking to appoint someone who can politically mitigate whatever punishment befalls the school. This is all about damage control and limiting the fallout. For now, the university is willing to withstand the public pressure.
When the next public fizzures inevitably occur based on new reporting or detailing of previously withheld information, the MSU approach will shift with the tide of pressure. MSU is playing for time, which explains why Engler's spokesman made that comment, and suggested he would not be happy about the document seizure by state authorities.
February 3rd, 2018 at 10:02 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
Both the Detroit News and Free Press came out strongly against Engler's appointment. Newspapers love scandals and this has gone way past the point where it can be left to the MSU beat writers who might want to cover it up. This is the type of story where writers and media look to win journalism awards.
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:07 PM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
that were covering Izzo and Dantonio. They depended on continuing to get access to do their jobs. Now the investigative reporters are getting involved. It's still local media, but it's a whole new ballgame.
February 3rd, 2018 at 7:18 PM ^
I could be wrong and I hope that I am, but I haven't heard a single local media source ask Izzo if he reported to Title IX the alleged Walton-2 MSU players gang rape from the ESPN OTL report. I don't know of any local media that has yet asked MSU if it was reported to the Title IX office.
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
case. The network was all over the OSU tattoo and Tressel scandal until well after it cost Tressel his job. So, I don't see them disappearing from this case just because of seasonal sports changes. And certainly the Detroit newspapers will cover whatever developments result in the state investigation. This is going to continue to generate coverage, and likely new reporting.
The only reason to appoint the former governor, a MSU alum, is to navigate the troubled waters ahead and offset the political pressure that would result from it. Izzo and Dantonio are both vulnerable at this point if it's demonstrated that they helped in any coverup of Title IX sexual assault or criminal violations.
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 10:08 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
certainly look hard in to the Nassar side of the investigation. Some heads will roll and they will try to appease the public that they are imparshal. Then once they start looking into the football and basketball allegations, the effort wil be a dog and pony show and they will claim no wrongdoing occured in either program.
It is easy to point fingers all around on the Nassar scandal. Most of the work proving the improprieties have already been discovered. The football and basketball wrongdoings will be harder to prove and to save face they will point the finger in another direction and say the coaches did their due dilligence.
Can't see anyone with ties to MSU cutting the heads off the snake.
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
February 3rd, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^