Suspended Michigan State soccer coach Mel Tucker mentioned Monday that allegations of sexual harassment in opposition to him are “completely false” and the intimate telephone name he had with activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy is exterior the scope of each Title IX and faculty coverage.
In a two-page assertion launched by a Detroit legislation agency, Tucker sharply criticized Tracy for suggesting their relationship was something however consensual and ripped the months-long investigation into his conduct as deeply flawed.
“I can only conclude that there is an ulterior motive designed to terminate my contract based on some other factor such as a desire to avoid any Nasser taint, or my race or gender,” mentioned Tucker, who’s Black.
The college was fined $4.5 million 4 years in the past by the Education Department for failing to adequately reply to sexual assault complaints in opposition to Larry Nassar, a campus sports physician who molested elite gymnasts and different feminine athletes. The faculty has additionally settled lawsuits filed by Nassar victims for $500 million.
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller suspended Tucker with out pay Sunday, lower than 24 hours after Tracy’s allegations turned public in a USA Today report.
The college employed a Title IX legal professional to research Tracy’s grievance and the investigation concluded July 25. A listening to is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to find out if Tucker violated the college’s sexual harassment and exploitation coverage.
“The proceedings initiated by Ms. Tracy are devoid of any semblance of fairness for any matter of this importance,” Tucker mentioned. “That is why I share some truth with you now.”
Tucker is within the third yr of a $95 million, 10-year contract and if he’s fired for trigger, the college wouldn’t must pay him what’s remaining on his deal.
The faculty might hearth Tucker for trigger if he “engages in any conduct which constitutes moral turpitude or which, in the University’s sole judgement, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule upon the university,” in keeping with his contract. The faculty additionally was capable of droop Tucker, with out pay, if he “materially breaches” his contract.
“Ms. Tracy’s attorney told us from the very beginning that I should not lose my job over her allegations, but that it would take a lot of money to make it go away,” Tucker mentioned. “Her twisting of our personal relationship months after it concluded is designed to revive her career and destroy my life, precipitated by her greed.”
Tracy turned pals with Tucker over her advocacy work, however that relationship took a flip in April 2022 when Tucker masturbated throughout a telephone name along with her, in keeping with USA Today.
Tucker acknowledged to investigators final spring that he masturbated through the telephone name with Tracy, however insisted it was consensual “phone sex.”
“We developed a mutual friendship that grew into an intimate, adult relationship,” mentioned the 51-year-old Tucker, who’s married and has two kids. “At this point, my wife and I had been estranged for a long time.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has spoken about being raped many years earlier, additionally weighed on the case.
“As a survivor, I’m shocked. As a Spartan, I’m disappointed. As Governor, I want answers,” Whitmer mentioned in an announcement. “I do know the ache that so many really feel when allegations like this come to gentle as a result of I stay it too. It’s retraumatizing. MSU holds a particular place in so lots of our hearts – which is what makes this damage extra.
“We deserve to know when the university knew about these allegations and why they made the decisions they did. We need to ensure that one of our state’s flagship universities, one that carries so much weight around the world, is learning from the past and not recreating it.”
Tracy is understood for her work with school groups, educating athletes about sexual violence. She has spoken to Michigan State’s soccer group a number of occasions. She has not returned a number of messages searching for further remark.
“While I am saddened by Ms. Tracy’s disclosure of the sensitive nature of this call, let me be perfectly clear – it was an entirely mutual, private event between two adults living at opposite ends of the country,” Tucker mentioned. “She initiated the discussion that night, sent me a provocative picture of the two of us together, suggested what she may look like without clothes, and never once during the 36 minutes did she object in any manner, much less hang up the phone.”
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com