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Michigan House Speaker Leonard Wants MSU President Simon To Step Down

State House Speaker Tom Leonard (left) and Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon (right)

State House Speaker Tom Leonard said Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon must step down. He said MSU and Lou Anna Simon have let down the victims of former sports doctor Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Speaker Leonard says MSU owes his victims an apology.

“And it’s time for the university to start to move forward, to begin the healing process, to do these young women justice, and that’s not happened as long as she’s the president of the university," said Leonard.

Leonard says he’s particularly disturbed that MSU hired an outside attorney to conduct an inquiry into the handling of the Nassar case, but there was no written report. He says that means university officials were negligent or engaged in a cover-up.

The MSU Board of Trustees released a statement last week expressing confidence in Simon. 

Credit MSU Today
MSU Board of Trustees response to Lansing State Journal editorial calling for President Lou Anna K. Simon to step down.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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