State agency: 2 MSU athletic trainers lied to police in Nassar investigation

LANSING - Two Michigan State University athletic trainers gave false statements to police about their knowledge of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, the state's licensing agency said.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs filed administrative complaints against Destiny Teachnor-Hauk and Lianna Hadden, according to a news release. 

The administrative complaints start a process that could lead to Teachnor-Hauk or Hadden facing fines, having their licenses suspended or having their licenses revoked.

Administrative complaints are filed by the licensing and regulation division of the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

"We've made it clear before and we're making it clear again today: lying to law enforcement officers engaged in an investigation is unacceptable," Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. "Teachnor-Hauk's and Hadden's unethical conduct and lack of good moral character deserves serious review by their licensing board."

Nessel's office is currently investigating MSU and its employees related to Nassar, an investigation that has resulted in criminal charges against former MSU President Lou Anna Simon and former MSU gymnastics coach Katie Klages for lying to police about their knowledge of sexual assault reports against Nassar.

Messages were left seeking comment from an attorney MSU said is representing both trainers in their licensing matters.

Both Teachnor-Hauk and Hadden still work for the university. 

MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said in a statement that the university is aware of the administrative complaints. 

"We are reviewing the findings and taking the complaint seriously," she added.

The university assigned Teachnor-Hauk to work with the women's gymnastics team after Nassar was fired in 2016. She was also one of the four medical experts interviewed as part of MSU's 2014 Title IX investigation of Nassar prompted by a sexual assault complaint. That investigation cleared Nassar.

Teachnor-Hauk told the university's investigator that she had never heard any complaints about Nassar.  

However, Tiffany Thomas Lopez, a former MSU softball player, has said she raised concerns about Nassar's abuse to Teachnor-Hauk and Hadden in the years prior to 2000.

The administrative complaints filed against Teachnor-Hauk and Hadden, don't identify any student-athletes, but mirror what Lopez and others have said publicly and in lawsuits. 

Teachnor-Hauk's complaint says that a student "advised (Teachnor-Hauk) that Nassar was performing treatments that included vaginal penetration and it made her uncomfortable. According to the student, (Teachnor-Hauk) advised her that this was
a legitimate medical procedure and she should not worry."

Attorney General special agents interviewed Teachnor-Hauk in June and she denied that the specific student or other student-athlete had ever raised concerns with Nassar or his treatment, and denied any knowledge that Nassar may have been performing inter-vaginal procedures during that time.

The complaint says those statements were untruthful.

Hadden's complaint says that two student-athletes raised concerns to her about Nassar in 2000. After the first athlete disclosed to her, according to the complaint, Hadden began to cry and told the athlete she would tell her supervisor, who, according to Lopez's lawsuit, was Teachnor-Hauk.

The second athlete spoke to Hadden "shortly thereafter," according to the complaint, and said "she was uncomfortable with Nassar's treatment and asked if there was a confidential way to report her discomfort." Hadden told the athlete that if she thought the conduct was criminal she should file a complaint. 

Hadden met with Attorney General special agents the same day as Teachnor-Hauk and denied that any athlete had ever raised concerns to her and that she had no memory of the conversation with the second athlete.  

The complaint says those statements were untruthful.

"The findings of our investigation are serious in nature and demonstrate unethical conduct for their profession," LARA Director Orlene Hawks said in the release. "We appreciate Attorney General Nessel’s collaboration with LARA during the course of these thorough investigations which resulted in the administrative complaints."

The action sets of an administrative process that could lead to penalties. The two trainers will have opportunities to respond to the complaint. A disciplinary subcommittee of the Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers will determine if violations occurred and whether to enforce penalties.

Seven current or former MSU employees with ties to the Nassar scandal have been the subjects of licensing investigations, with most being cleared. 

Gary Stollak, a former MSU psychologist, agreed to surrender his license after a state investigation found he failed to inform authorities of suspected abuse by Nassar. 

Dr. Douglas Dietzel is the subject of an open investigation in a second complaint despite being cleared in July, a LARA spokesman previously said. Dietzel is the head of MSU Sports Medicine clinic. Nassar worked in the clinic and served as team doctor for the women’s gymnastics and crew teams.

Dr. William Strampel, one of Nassar's former bosses and the third person charged as a result of the AG's Office investigation of MSU, remains under licensing investigation. 

Dr. Brooke Lemmen, who removed patient files from the university in 2016 at Nassar's request, was cleared of any licensing violation. She was also one of the four medical experts used in the 2014 Title IX investigation of Nassar. 

Dr. Jeffrey Kovan, the team doctor for Michigan State University's basketball, soccer, track and softball teams, was cleared last year. He received the sexual assault report that prompted the 2014 investigation.

Nassar is serving a 60-year federal prison sentence on three child pornography convictions. He was sentenced to decades more in prison on 10 sexual assault charges. 

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