WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) – chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security with jurisdiction over the health and safety of USA Gymnastics, US Olympic and NCAA athletes – today released the following statement regarding the charges against former Michigan State University (MSU) President Lou Anna Simon:

“The charges brought against Lou Anna Simon today illustrate her desire to first and foremost protect her own position and institution, even when it came in direct conflict with doing right by Michigan State athletes in the wake of repeated abuse claims at the hands of Larry Nassar. These charges, Ms. Simon’s hesitation to testify at our hearing in June and recent charges against Steve Penny continue to point to the systemic mismanagement and enablement of abuse that occurred at MSU and within the Olympic movement. Our subcommittee will continue to make certain that leaders of these organizations are putting the protection of athletes above all else.”