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MSU Provost says she was involved in Nassar suspension during testimony

Posted at 2:26 PM, Apr 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-16 14:26:07-04

CHARLOTTE, Mich. — Former senior advisor to Lou Anna K. Simon, Paulette Granberry-Russell, said she responded truthfully when questioned by Michigan State Police during their investigation of Larry Nassar.

She reiterated that she never talked to the former president of Michigan State University about Nassar.

This occurred in the final few minutes of her testimony on the fourth day during a preliminary hearing for Simon in Eaton County court.

The next witness called to testify is June Youatt, the Provost at MSU.

She is currently answering questions from state prosecutors.

This hearing will determine if the former MSU president will stand trial on charges connected to the Nassar scandal.

Simon is charged with lying to police about when she knew about the abuse allegations against Nassar.

During Granberry-Russell's testimony on Tuesday prosecutors challenged earlier answers by made by her.

Attorneys from the state pointed out that last week Granberry-Russell said she made notes regarding Nassar so she could discuss them with the president at a meeting schedule for May 19, 2014.

However, in response to a question from Simon's defense counsel, Granberry-Russell says she never mentioned the name Larry Nassar to the former MSU president.

Granberry-Russell added she had, "no recollection" if she asked President Simon to be involved in the Nassar case.

Defense counsel began the day with questions seeking to discover from Granberry-Russell what details the former president was aware of when a Title IX investigation was completed during Simon's tenure at MSU.

Granberry-Russell left the witness stand just before noon on Tuesday after being questioned by attorneys from both sides over three days.

Judge Julie Reincke, who is presiding over the hearing, started the morning with comments to the attorneys to, "not drag this (the hearing) into September."

Several witnesses have testified over the first three days of her hearing.

She faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

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