OU gives Boren report to OSBI

The University of Oklahoma has turned over a law firm's secret report on former President David Boren to the OSBI, The Oklahoman has learned.

OU released the Jones Day report to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in May after getting a state grand jury subpoena, sources said.

OSBI agents began investigating Boren in March after a former teaching assistant, Jess Eddy, accused him of sexual battery. The OSBI got involved at the request of OU police. The criminal investigation has broadened since then, and some potential grand jury witnesses are being represented by attorneys, The Oklahoman has learned.

The multi county grand jury meets one to three days a month in Oklahoma City to hear testimony in closed sessions. The grand jury regularly issues indictments charging individuals with crimes. Grand jurors next meet June 18-20.

Boren, 78, denies wrongdoing. The former governor and U.S. senator spent nearly 24 years in charge at OU before

retiring as president June 30. OU hired Jones Day in November to look into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Boren.

The law firm briefed OU regents on the findings April 9, shortly after attorneys interviewed Boren.

Its report is more than 50 pages long.

OU initiated the personnel investigation of Boren in part because of his intentions to continue teaching an honors political science course. “It's great to be back in the classroom today for my 55th semester as a professor,” he wrote on Twitter in August. He did not teach during the 2019 spring semester, though, citing health reasons.

The personnel investigation could result in sanctions against Boren, and regents will have the final say.

Among the possible sanctions is loss of his president emeritus status.

Both the OSBI and OU would neither confirm nor deny that the Jones Day report had been turned over.

“The University of Oklahoma is restricted by state law from commenting about participation in state criminal investigations if, in fact, we are asked to do so,” OU told The Oklahoman. “Our goal is to comply with the law.”

Eddy, 29, said Friday he was pleased to hear that the OSBI has the report.

“I've been hoping for some time that the regents, the university, would turn that evidence over,” Eddy said. “And I look forward to a time when the victims, myself, have the opportunity to review that report.”

The OSBI also is investigating sexual misconduct allegations made against Tripp Hall, a former OU vice president. Hall has denied the allegations.