CHARLOTTE, Mich. — Former MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon appeared in court on Tuesday for a probable cause hearing.
She was in front of Judge Julie Reincke at the Eaton County District Court at 2:30 p.m.
The attorneys met off the record first.
Prosecutors told the court they anticipate three full days for the preliminary exam. Those dates will be Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and 5, 2019.
Lou Anna Simon is accused of lying to police during the Larry Nassar investigation.
Prosecutors said she knew Nassar was the subject of a title nine investigation and that the investigation was about sexual abuse. Simon faces four counts of lying to police.
At her November arraignment, Simon's lawyers told News 10 the evidence against her is false, ridiculous and the charges have no merit.
The Attorney General's office responded to that Tuesday.
"This isn't about bleeding green or white, this isn't about Spartan nation, this is about truth and honesty and responsibility," said Andrea Bitely, Attorney General spokesperson.
Michigan will have a new attorney general by the time Simon is due back in court.
Attorney General-elect, Dana Nesel, will have all the information. However, the decisions about things like what witnesses to call will be up to the individual prosecutors handling the case.
November 26, 2018:
"When asked if you were aware of any investigation involving Larry Nassar prior to 2016, you falsely or misleadingly said that 'I was aware that in 2014 there was a sports med doc who was subject to an investigation.' When in fact you knew it was Larry Nassar who was the subject of 2014 Title IX investigations," Reincke said at Simon's arraignment.
After the arraignment, Simon's attorney, Mayer Morganroth, said: "She had 47 years there and all they are doing is torturing a woman."
Simon sat nearly silent in that Eaton County courtroom during her November arraignment.
On that day she said only "I do," to understanding she could spend up to four years in prison.
Her lawyers, on the other hand, had plenty to say after the arraignment.
"These charges have no merit whatsoever, and we are looking forward to our day in court to prove these charges are without merit. And we are confident that Dr. Simon is going to be exonerated in full," said Lee SIlver, Simon's attorney.
Police said Simon knew a woman accused Nassar of molesting her during a 2014 medical exam. Simon claimed she didn't know it was Nassar and didn't know it was a sexual abuse allegation. Her attorneys said is just not true what police are claiming.
"Well we're not going to get into the evidence because the evidence is false, ridiculous and would be even stupid for any of you to even consider it, you'll find out," said Morganroth.
Simon's attorneys claim the Attorney General's office crossed the line when it asked for Simon to be fingerprinted, booked and have a mug shot taken.
"This whole process, these charges, fingerprinting her, she is being treated as a criminal, when she has done absolutely nothing wrong, and we are going to prove that," said Silver.
Simon resigned as president in January 2018 but stayed on the payroll as a faculty member.
An MSU spokesperson said she's currently on unpaid leave while she deals with her legal matters.
