EAST LANSING, MI — Michigan State University administrators agreed Friday to release documents to the attorney general related to the school's investigation into now-imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
East Lansing school administrators unanimously decided to finally turn over the documents, which will be reviewed by the school's general counsel before being released.
Redactions will take place of sensitive and personal privacy information. The school had argued that the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege.
In its resolution, the board said Michigan State will develop and implement a plan to support those who may experience trauma when the documents are released.
Women who were sexually abused by Nassar filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan and the trustee board in July, saying school officials made “secret decisions” about releasing documents in the case.
They said the school refused to give the attorney general's office more than 6,000 documents for an investigation into how Nassar was allowed to get away with his behavior, and later wouldn't turn over emails about the board's decision-making.
Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after admitting to years of abusing some of the country's top gymnasts under the guise of medical treatment. He was accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of women and girls.
Michigan State has been criticized for its handling of the Nassar investigation and its dealings with survivors in the aftermath of his arrest and conviction. The school has settled lawsuits from Nassar victims for $500 million.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement after Friday's vote that her office will review the documents and reopen and expedite the investigation once they are received.
“The students, the MSU community at large, and especially the victims of Larry Nassar, have long owed this transparency,” Nessel said. “I am encouraged to see that the MSU Board of Trustees is finally making the right decision after a long time. -promised, and long-delayed, level of transparency.”
Nessel had previously asked the school to release the documents to shed light on what the school knew about Nassar's abuse. She ended her investigation into the school's handling of the Nassar case in 2021 because the university refused to provide documents related to the scandal.
Nassar victim Amanda Cormier told the board before Friday's vote that she appreciated the agency would finally consider releasing the documents.
“I truly believe that the culture of MSU will not heal until the documents are released, and we are learning more about the culture of MSU that allowed this to happen to so many people,” Cormier said.
