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Former Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon will face a criminal trial over her role in the Dr. Larry Nassar case.
Simon is accused of lying to investigators who were looking into charges that Nassar sexually assaulted hundreds of young women he treated while working as a sports physician for MSU, and for U.S. Gymnastics.
He eventually pleaded guilty, and is serving a life sentence in federal prison.
Yesterday, Eaton County District Judge Julie Reincke ruled that there is enough evidence against Simon to justify a trial.
Simon will remain free on bail until she is arraigned on felony charges December 12th.
Nassar’s former supervisor at MSU, William Strampel – the former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine – was convicted as part of the wider investigation last summer, and sentenced to a year in jail. Former MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages is awaiting trial on charges that she lied to police.
Meanwhile, Michigan State University Trustee Nancy Schlichting has resigned.
In her letter to Governor Whitmer, Schlichting cited the board of trustees’ recent decision not to pursue an independent investigation into the Nassar case.
The board had decided to open that investigation in June, but changed course in September, ostensibly because an investigation by the federal Office of Civil Rights concluded earlier than expected.
