Mel Tucker made millions while he delayed the Michigan State sexual harassment case
Tucker’s attorney, Jennifer Belveal, said she was unavailable…Tucker and Belveal said they were unavailable for any of the other nine…
In late June, Tracy agreed to give USA TODAY exclusive access to the case file to write a story, on the condition that the news organization wait until the case ended to publish it…USA TODAY agreed not to publish the story until Tracy gave the green light.
In early September, USA TODAY Network reporters in Michigan heard Tracy’s name and specific details about the case mentioned in connection with the rumors. They shared the information to USA TODAY without identifying their sources, and USA TODAY relayed the information to Tracy. Believing someone at Michigan State had leaked her name, Tracy gave USA TODAY consent to publish the story on Sept. 10.
So a Michigan State employee leaked the story directly to reporters at USA Today? So therefore this qualifies as ANOTHER(!) case of sexual assault/harassment in which Michigan State has mishandled?
But holdup…
In defense of Michigan State, how trustworthy is anybody at this point? Notice how carefully Brenda Tracy controlled the story with USA Today, making sure it was only by her green light that this story could release. Making sure her side of the matter was clearly articulated well before release.
Could we put it past Brenda Tracy herself to prompt the story’s early release by USA Today? Keeping in mind she controlled the story’s release? With the justification that this story should’ve already come out by now (late-August) but with Mel Tuggy’s lawyer resorting to delay tactics, why not pull the trigger? (Can’t blame her.)
I am hesitant to believe that somebody inside Michigan State went straight to reporters with such cavalier details. First off, VERY FEW individuals would’ve had the depth of the specific details that were published. Maybe 4 employees? And if half of those are likely legal counsel that rules them out due to legal confidentiality risks.
So, wouldn’t Michigan State know almost right away who the likely leaker was? And any potential leaker would know this too, further deterring any leaks?
And aside from the leak potentially occurring from inside Michigan State, they’ve rightly managed the behind-the-scenes and their public response about as carefully as possible. Ts crossed, Is dotted, so to speak.
After the gymnastics fallout, Michigan State had an immense burden of reputation to make sure this story didn’t leak, and the right safeguards were all in place. Brenda Tracy, on the other hand, did have the motivations and means to prompt this story’s early release. I’m thinking the delay tactics by Mel Tuggy’s Legal Rep pissed off Brenda Tracy.
