FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 2, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Office of the Alabama
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Attorney General
ACTING AG CHRIS MCCOOL ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF INVESTIGATION INTO ASU
(MONTGOMERY) – Acting Attorney General Chris McCool announced today that
the investigation into alleged wrongdoing at Alabama State University (ASU) has been closed.
(This statement is being issued in response to media inquiries regarding substantial
information put in the public domain by other governmental agencies related to the
investigation of ASU by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division (SPD).)
This matter was opened following complaints from former employees and pursuant
to a public referral from former Governor Robert Bentley, who served as the ex officio Chairman
of the ASU Board of Trustees. Acting Attorney General McCool was appointed by former
Attorney General Luther Strange, who recused himself.
In 2012, former Governor Bentley publicly announced that he was referring the matter
for criminal investigation. Subsequently, Acting AG McCool directed SPD Chief Matt Hart to
empanel a special grand jury in Montgomery County to investigate the allegations. The SPD
worked in close coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of
Alabama, which conducted its own investigation into ASU.
All of the allegations referred by the governor, and many more, were investigated.
Extensive expert analyses of records and financial information were conducted. Dozens of
witnesses and thousands of items of evidence were presented to the special grand jury. Acting
Attorney General McCool personally participated in virtually every special grand jury session.
After evaluating all the evidence, the special grand jury declined to act on any
allegation. For this reason, the matter is now closed.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
