Board rejects call to oust leader over abuse probe

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University’s governing board rejected an effort to dismiss the school’s interim president Friday as trustees met to discuss how to pay for a $ 500 million settlement with hundreds of women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar.

Trustee Brian Mosallam tried to change the meeting agenda and allow a vote to fire John Engler, who had disparaged victims and their lawyers in emails that surfaced last week. The audience cheered, but the board voted 6- 2 against taking up the issue.

Engler apologized Thursday for suggesting in emails that Rachael Denhollander, one of Nassar’s most outspoken victims, probably received a “kickback” from her attorney.

“I didn’t give it the consideration it warranted,” Engler said. “That was a big mistake. I was wrong. I apologize.”

Later on Thursday, board Chairman Brian Breslin called Engler’s apology “appropriate and appreciated by a majority of the board.” But Mosallam said the apology “is too little too late.” Fellow trustee Dianne Byrum agreed.

Denhollander said Thursday she appreciated Engler’s gesture but remains convinced he cannot lead the university.

Engler, a former Michigan governor, was tapped in February to temporarily lead the university after the crisis surrounding Nassar, who abused hundreds of girls and women under the guise of medical treatment while employed at Michigan State. Nassar is now serving a decades- long prison sentence for molesting patients and possessing child pornography.

Engler’s presidency has since become tangled in further public relations scandals of his own doing. But he refused to back down.

“We have a lot of work to do and I’ll be here until that work is done,” Engler said while reading a portion of the apology in the Friday meeting.

On the issue of the $ 500 million settlement, the board voted 5- 3 to approve a contract for the attorney who worked to seal the deal, Robert Young. Mosallam, Byrum and Dan Kelly voted against the nearly $ 1.3 million contract.