LANSING, Mich. – After many years, the investigation into former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar has ended.
Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison in 2018 after he admitted to sexually abusing some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment. The 54-year-old was initially charged with more than 20 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct but instead agreed to a plea deal.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the conclusion of the investigation Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The investigation aimed to find out who at MSU knew about the abuse and when they knew. After a review of more than 6,000 documents that were previously withheld found no new information regarding the incident, the investigation has been closed.
“Simply put, there remains no fulfilling answer to the question of how this abuse was able to be perpetuated on so many, for so long, without MSU, or anyone else, putting a stop to it,” Nessel said. “To say that I am disappointed with this outcome is an understatement.”
Nessel said the documents revealed that there are communications that have not been preserved and that incriminating information that could have been relevant and benefit the investigation no longer exists.
A report released by the Attorney General’s Office said the university’s decision to withhold documents for years that contained “no useful insight,” resulted in years of delay.
“Sadly, this epic document saga does not end with light shining on new answers or new investigative paths to follow, but rather with a fade to black and the keen recognition that MSU could have acted more responsibly to avoid further angst for the victims, its own University community, and the public at large.”
Report on Michigan State University/Larry Nassar Document Review and Investigation
“This is a disappointing close to our years-long investigation into the abuse that hundreds of young women were subjected to over the course of more than a decade,” said Nessel. “While I appreciate that MSU eventually cooperated, the withheld documents provided victims with a sense of false hope, for no justifiable reason.”
You can read the full report from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office at the bottom of the page.
The investigation began in 2018 by former Attorney General Bill Schuette. The University then turned over more than 105,000 documents for review but held back over 6,000 documents under a claim of attorney-client privilege.
After Kevin M. Guskiewicz became MSU president following Samuel Stanley’s resignation, the documents were finally handed over to the Attorney General’s office earlier this year.
The report revealed that a significant amount of documents released didn’t appear to be covered by attorney-client privilege and those that were protected had little to do with the investigation but covered public relations, insurance and funding.
“There was no justifiable reason to withhold those documents for any period of time, let alone an extended period. Further, the documents that contained, or at least arguably contained, privileged information did not offer any new insight into MSU’s handling of Nassar’s abuse or who knew what about it and when.”
Report on Michigan State University/Larry Nassar Document Review and Investigation
The university has been criticized for its handling of the Nassar investigation and its dealings with survivors in the aftermath of his arrest and conviction.
A lawsuit was filed in 2023 against MSU that claimed school officials made “secret decisions” about releasing documents in the case.
In August, the Justice Department said they found failures in how the FBI handled the case against Nassar.
Michigan State University released the following statement regarding the report:
“We respect the thorough efforts made by the Attorney General’s office in its extensive investigation, and we recognize the impact this has had on survivors, their families, and the MSU community.
Throughout the course of the investigation, MSU has fully complied with the attorney general’s office and has provided more than 100,000 documents related to facts surrounding the entirety of the case. The university maintains that our interpretation and application of the attorney-client privilege was appropriate, as determined by East Lansing District Court Judge Richard Ball in 2019.
Since 2016, the university has taken significant steps to improve campus safety and culture through robust prevention, support, and response efforts. We are working to become a more accountable organization each day, guided by an unwavering commitment to providing a safe campus and equitable environment for all. We echo the attorney general’s comments in acknowledging the role survivors have made in advocating for change and improvements surrounding assault and abuse in our state and globally.”
MSU Vice President and University Spokesperson Emily Guerrant
You can read the full report from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office below.
