A Texas State Representative today introduced a resolution calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to order the Texas Rangers to investigate alleged obstruction of justice involving a sexual assault scandal surrounding the football team at Baylor University, saying 'criminal institutional failures' occurred at the university, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
State Rep. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio), who is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, says he will also meet personally within the next 24 hours with the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, which runs the Texas Rangers, to work with police in Waco, where Baylor is located, to investigate the 'horrible atrocities' which have been revealed in media and other problems into the scandal.
"Police agencies should have been in there right behind you, and that hasn't happened," Gutierrez said.He suggested that some of the state police officers who have been deployed to border security duties be 'pulled back' to help with the probe.
"Young women at Baylor were coerced and shamed into keeping quiet," he said. "This is to make sure that an investigation into obstruction of justice and institutional failures is conducted."
He said a Legislative committee may also investigate the Baylor situation, where Gutierrez says campus officials have conceded that 125 women who were victims of sexual assault on the campus in the last four years, a figure disputed by Baylor officials, who say 17 women have reported being sexually assaulted, and the number of 125 is the number of women who have been assaulted or 'sexually harassed. '
Gutierrez said 'hundreds of sexual assault cases have gone uninvestigated at Baylor.
'"We can't stop crime, but we should be able to stop people from colluding in the name of football, in the name of donations," he said.
A lawsuit filed against Baylor claims 31 different football players committed 52 acts of sexual assault on the campus between 2011 and 2014.
"Widespread evidence of obstruction of justice has come out over the last several months," Gutierrez said. "We have learned examples of how Baylor University officials 'failed to investigate or to adequately investigate, allegations of sexual violence. In fact, Baylor failed to examine numerous allegations for two years and kept allegations on fire for as long as four years."
Gutierrez said the Texas Rangers should also investigate what he said was a lack of transparency by Baylor officials.
"Under no shape or form should any institution, public or private, be allowed to conceal records requests, hiding behind Title IX, and hiding behind the notion that they are a private institution," he said.
He said an internal investigation by an outside law firm hired by Baylor indicated that there was an 'intentional obstruction of justice.
'"When that happens, you don't get to just say 'I'm sorry' and have it be over," he said.
Despite Baylor's status as a private university, Gutierrez says the state could withhold what is called 'Tuition Equalization Grants,' which help low income students attend private institutions. Baylor has requested the Legislature to approve $10 million in EEG's during the current session.
The scandal led to the firing of head football coach Art Briles, and the resignation of Baylor's Athletic Director and President Ken Starr, who is best known for his role in the investigations into President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.
"People at a very high level at Baylor have kept all of these incidents from coming into the light of day, and we would call that 'obstruction of justice'."
Baylor released a statement in response to Gutierrez's bill:
“Baylor University renews its pledge to extend our full cooperation with governmental and law enforcement authorities surrounding the issue of sexual assaults that occurred within our campus community several years ago, as we have done with other external inquiries that are currently underway. As an example, the Office of Civil Rights will have representatives on the Baylor campus this week to meet with various administrators and students, including confidential open office hours that are available to all students, faculty and staff.
“Our hearts are heavy at the thought of anyone experiencing sexual assault within the Baylor Family. As we have said previously, any such acts are reprehensible and unacceptable. The University remains committed to eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based harassment and discrimination within our campus community."
Baylor said its policy is 'one sexual assault on campus is too many.'
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