LANSING, Mich. _ Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is considering action against the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, according to a Friday report.
Spokeswoman Anna Heaton said Snyder is considering unspecified action against the board amid the ongoing sex abuse scandal involving former MSU doctor Larry Nassar, Michigan Information & Research Service, a Lansing newsletter, reported.
"The situation is heartbreaking and unprecedented," Heaton was quoted as saying. "The governor first needs to consider whether action, if any is taken, would interfere with the myriad investigations already taking place."
Snyder was mulling a move after ESPN aired a story detailing a number of allegations of sexual assault and violent attacks on women occurred with Spartan football and basketball players.
MSU's athletic director, Mark Hollis, announced his retirement Friday after MSU President Lou Anna Simon announced her resignation Wednesday night. The MSU board met on Friday and board members promised change.
The departures from the MSU administration came after Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor who also was employed by Michigan State, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing more than 150 girls and young women, including some MSU athletes.
Republican consultant Dennis Lennox filed a lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims Thursday seeking to order Snyder into calling inquiries into removal of all members of the MSU Board of Trustees.
"Today, the members of the MSU Board of Trustees admitted their inaction contributed to the university's failure to safeguard," Lennox said in an email. "It is time for the governor to convene an inquiry, pursuant to the constitution, and consider removal for gross neglect of duty, malfeasance and misfeasance."
Under the state Constitution, the governor has the power to remove elected and appointed officials, after conducting an inquiry.
Legal experts voiced differing views on whether Snyder could hold an inquiry aimed at removing Simon, since universities have some constitutional autonomy and she was appointed by the MSU board, not by Snyder. That question is now moot with respect to Simon, following her resignation. But Michigan constitutional experts generally agree Snyder could take such action against the MSU trustees, since they are elected officials.
The constitution says the governor, after an inquiry, may remove or suspend from office any elected or appointed officer "for gross neglect of duty or for corrupt conduct in office, or for any other misfeasance or malfeasance," except for officials in the legislative or judicial branches of government.
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm convened such an inquiry in 2008, aimed at removing former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick amid his troubles involving perjury and allegations of misconduct in office. Kilpatrick resigned before the inquiry was completed.
Several investigations into MSU are pending, including one promised by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Schuette said on Twitter Friday that his investigation is already under way, and he scheduled a Saturday news conference.
