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Kenneth Starr Fired As Baylor University President Over Football Team Sex Scandal?

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 03:48 PST, May 25, 2016

Kenneth Starr may soon be out as the president of Baylor University. Starr, the man who once investigated Bill Clinton, has found himself embroiled in a football team sex scandal.

Baylor University Board of Regents reportedly discussed the continued employment of Kenneth Starr on Tuesday. The move came after public backlash over Starr’s handling of the rape allegations made against multiple members of the university football team. University officials told Fox News they have not yet made a decision about firing their president.

Officials at the Texas university are still reportedly reviewing the results of an internal investigation relating to how Starr handled the football team sex scandal. A decision may be made by June 3, but for now, Kenneth Starr is still the Baylor University president.

Kenneth Starr became the president of Baylor University in 2010, the New York Times reports. He first became a household name when he was assigned as the special prosecutor in the White House sex scandal between then President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Starr has since reportedly commended Clinton for his political skills.

“The Baylor Board of Regents continues its work to review the findings of the Pepper Hamilton investigation and we anticipate further communication will come after the Board completes its deliberations,” university spokeswoman Tonya Lewis said in a media release. “We will not respond to rumors, speculation or reports based on unnamed sources, but when official news is available, the University will provide it. We expect an announcement by June 3.”

Rumors about Kenneth Starr being fired by Baylor University were first published by HornsDigest.com — a sports website. Both Baylor University football coach Art Briles and Starr have been the targets of intense backlash in the wake of the football team sex scandal. The Texas school has been accused of ignoring rape claims levied against two football players. The young men were ultimately convicted of sexual assault. Any plans to terminate or take some type of action against Coach Briles remains unknown.

Football player Sam Ukwuachu was convicted of sexually assaulting a soccer player at the university. Tevon Elliott was also convicted on similar charges. As more claims of sexual misconduct and assault by football players emerged, a group of students, staff, and alumni staged a candlelight vigil outside of Starr’s home in protest of his alleged inaction on the matter.

“Our hearts break for those whose lives are impacted by execrable acts of sexual violence. I am in favor of transparency. Stand up, take your medicine if you made a mistake,” Starr said after the candlelight vigil.

Last year, Baylor University hired the Pepper Hamilton firm to conduct an internal review of the handling of the football team sex scandal. Although details from the review have not yet been shared with the public, some of the findings were recently submitted to university officials.

Coach Art Briles has been credited with turning the low-ranking football team into a gridiron powerhouse in just nine years. The Baylor University Bears have won two Big 12 championships. Two years ago, the Texas school opened a massive new football stadium on the campus.

Kenneth Starr is reportedly a big supporter of the football team and often ran onto the field with students during pre-game festivities.

Baylor University is currently the target of a federal lawsuit initiated by a former student. The female student maintains the Baptist Texas school behaved in a “deliberately indifferent” manner to the rape allegations she had levied against Elliott.

[Image by AP Photo/LM Otero,File]

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