Kenneth Starr made a name for himself in the 1990’s as the lawyer who hounded then-President Bill Clinton all the way to impeachment over sexual improprieties. Now, a few decades later, he has shown himself to be a bit of a hypocrite.
Since 2010, Starr has been the president of the private college Baylor University, a school known in recent years for its success in college football. More recently though, the university has been embroiled in a sexual assault scandal.
An ESPN investigation reported on school officials repeatedly ignoring instances of sexual assault by Baylor student athletes (especially football players), and the Waco police department of keeping any athlete-related cases as quiet as possible.
One former athlete is currently serving 20 years in a Texas state prison for a sexual assault in 2011.
Ken Starr is not the only Baylor official being lambasted for turning a blind eye to these accusations, but in Texas, football is king, and perennial winning head football Art Briles is not likely to be fired. Instead, as president of the university, the Baylor Board of Regents believe Ken Starr bears most of the responsibility.
On Starr’s watch, the school is accused of failing to respond to sexual assaults reported by at least six female students. Now it seems like Starr is out.
A source close to #Baylor confirms Ken Starr is out. @KCENNews pic.twitter.com/R4pfmG87si
— Nikki Laurenzo (@NikkiLaurenzo) May 24, 2016
Baylor released a statement neither confirming nor denying the news, but things do not exactly look good for Ken’s job.
Statement from Baylor RE: Ken Starr's reported firing and additional reports stemming from the investigation. pic.twitter.com/eXuknOoQK2
— Adam Silverstein (@SilversteinAdam) May 24, 2016
Considering Starr’s history of wagging his finger at Bill Clinton for his personal behavior, it seems a little rich that he might claim ignorance to such terrible assaults happening to young women under his watch. But when they play football for you, when they win games for you, I guess it is a little different, isn’t it Ken?
Watch a video from the Dallas Morning News documenting students’ reactions to the sexual assaults and Baylor’s lack of reaction.
Feature image via Getty/Jamie Squire
