Katherine Redmond Claims She has "bombshell" evidence that MSU purposefully covered up gang rape

Submitted by wildbackdunesman on August 7th, 2019 at 4:55 PM

Katherine Redmond a known advocate for sexual assault victims claims to have a "bombshell" email that Hollis knew of a gang rape and so did a coach (doesn't say which one).

Link

Not sure if anything will come of this.

 

Wolverheel

August 7th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^

I don’t understand the strategy here... what’s the point in saying something like this and not presenting said evidence? Are they hoping to get money not to report it or something? Trying to generate interest ahead of time? I’m not accusing her of anything, I just genuinely don’t understand what this type of thing accomplishes.

I feel like I see all these “BOMBSHELL report coming, every politician everywhere is DONE when this comes out!” on the news websites, but nothing ever comes from them. 

cypherblue

August 8th, 2019 at 9:33 AM ^

Absolutely illegal. She would be looking to put herself in serious legal jeopardy. That's a federal felony.

For the record, this lady is not extorting money from institutions. She's actually trying to do something that society cares little about; expose the rape epidemic on college campuses.

Mr Miggle

August 7th, 2019 at 7:01 PM ^

Reasons not to put it out there immediately are easy enough. Give Hollis and the coach a chance to respond. Follow leads that could be part of the story.

Good reasons to put out that tweet before she's ready to release the email or write a story are less obvious. Building interest isn't the greatest reason, but I guess it's not the worst either. Maybe she's hoping someone else with information will contact her now. It's always better to have another source.

I guess the bottom line for me is that I'll believe her until she shows me that I shouldn't, the opposite of how I feel about MSU.

 

gustave ferbert

August 7th, 2019 at 8:26 PM ^

I agree with what you are saying. 

There are a lot of moving parts.  Like President Simon "retiring".  I thought it was asinine that she even had an office on campus much less a job with the University still.  

I would think (given the timing I would have to think it's Dantonio) she is trying to give the coach a chance to come out himself and get in front of the story.  

But that's not their culture and I don't expect that to happen. 

 

JFW

August 8th, 2019 at 7:48 AM ^

I can't wrap my mind around that. I'm not saying you're wrong, but...

If I know a coach and an AD deliberately covered up a gang rape why give them *anything at all*. Screw them. Let them deal with it in court. 

When I hear stuff like this it doesn't move my needle at all. Accusations don't mean much without facts and evidence. 

Mr Miggle

August 8th, 2019 at 8:39 AM ^

It's not that so much as to give them a chance to respond to you directly. Then you put their response in your story. Or say we reached out to Hollis and the coach and they declined to respond.

You might consider that a courtesy to someone who doesn't deserve any. But it's a standard thing to do and their response might actually provide you with something useful. Maybe they give an answer they wouldn't after the story breaks and lawyers and PR people get a hold of them. Maybe they can even give reason to doubt your source. 

Blue_Bull_Run

August 8th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^

Came here to post the exact same thing. I have grown leery of all these promised "bombshells." I think her strategy may genuinely be to drum up media attention (not looking for a payout, although I guess there's a price for everything). For example, I know I am more interested now that it's been sold to me as a "bombshell." However, if you promise me a bombshell, you damn well better deliver a real bombshell. Hyping news as being a bombshell is a disservice, in a way, because even moderately compelling evidence will be washed away under the expection of a true bombshell. 

Wolverine 73

August 7th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^

I don’t know where she got this email, or whether it is legitimate, but it is odd that the person who had it, assuming he or she wanted the information made public, did not make it available to the authorities during their investigations of all the abuse allegations at that school.  Now, I suppose he could have and they could have buried it or investigated and decided it was bogus, so he has gone another route to publicize it now.  But I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions about this claim until more information is provided.

Arb lover

August 7th, 2019 at 8:49 PM ^

Youd probably also be amazed at the ndas a public university could ask them to sign, and how outside counsel could threaten these employees, that everything had been turned over and to reach out to authorities on your own would undermine the process, confuse the authorities and end up with you in court and out of a job.

Whistleblowers are often lay people with limited understanding of their rights and responsibilities, thrust into a very difficult situation where they are the only person even trying to do the right thing.

Iredditonline

August 7th, 2019 at 5:23 PM ^

She said she got an email that (presumably) Dantonio or Izzo knew about a rape and lied about knowing. That’s not “covering up” a rape, although that could’ve happened. Will be interesting to see where this goes. 

Email could be fake. Email could have ambiguous language that allows the coach to weasel out of it. Who knows. 

Qmatic

August 7th, 2019 at 6:24 PM ^

If it’s the one in 2010/11 involving two starting basketball players, it is pretty well known that it was covered up. 

I know people who were at MSU during the time and most of campus knew about a “strip basketball game” in a dorm room that turned very bad and involved two players. If so many people knew about it, how did the police and university not? 

They were two starters, and as crazy as this sounds, it was almost 10 years ago and sadly things weren’t like how they are now

blahblahblahh

August 7th, 2019 at 8:30 PM ^

If so many people knew about it, how did the police and university not?

They did. They interviewed the players. There was a police report.

"Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III confirmed his office decided not to bring charges after what he called a thorough review of the incident, which occurred late Aug. 29 and early Aug. 30 at Wonders Hall."

Franz Schubert

August 8th, 2019 at 7:10 AM ^

Everyone knew because the police investigated the incident and recommended Appling and Payne be charged. Appling told police that she was consensual but at some point she was done and said stop. He stopped at that point but Payne did not according to Appling. Despite the police wanting it charged, the prosecutor declined to do so.

footballguy

August 8th, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^

They did know. 

The city didn't press charges, and he also happened to be a Michigan basketball season ticket holder

I read Joe Rexrode's piece on this fact. The guy who didn't press charges actually hated MSU sports. He left a little while ago, but I really wouldn't say anything prior to him leaving Ingham County was "covered up". 

But it does sound like stuff after he left may have been covered up. I'm thinking more in the 2014-present time

 

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/2018/02/02/rexrode-izzo-dantonio-michigan-state-scandal-larry-nassar/300122002/

Jmer

August 7th, 2019 at 6:01 PM ^

Urban Meyer knew about Zach Smith's domestic violence history and lied about knowing. OSU didn't want to do anything but basically because of media pressure, OSU suspended him 3 games. 

The way MSU circles the wagons, if it is proven that Dantonrio or Izzo knew about a gang rape and lied, MSU will probably make them wear a blue ribbon...and that's about it. Nothing will come from this beyond that.