Corruption would “make Lincoln roll over in his grave.”

[David Lockmiller]

Former U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made the recent statement: “We were engaged [in 2016] to provide counsel regarding anticipated litigation . . . ."

In April, 2018, President of the University of Michigan, Lou Anna Simon, portrayed the university’s review as a robust and “tireless effort” that would . . . examine — through both criminal investigations and a thorough internal review — how something so abhorrent happened here and went on for so long."

As a consequence of this misleading statement, former U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald should have stepped forward in April, 2017 to tell the truth. He should have clearly informed the public at that time that his law firm's engagement was contractually limited to provide legal counsel "regarding anticipated litigation" against Michigan State University.

"Over the months since they hired Mr. Fitzgerald, 57, and his team of lawyers, Michigan State officials have highlighted his review — sometimes noting Mr. Fitzgerald’s involvement by name — as a sign of the seriousness of their response."

Accordingly, former U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald should have expressly stated that "his team took 'affirmative steps' not to interview victims of the abuse because of ethics rules restricting contact with plaintiffs in civil cases in accordance with these contract terms. This would have disclosed to the Public the very restricted role in the investigation played both by himself and the law firm by which he was employed.

Former U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald did not do so.

But this is what I believe that lawyer Abraham Lincoln would have done in similar circumstances if he had signed such a contract.