DOJ to Investigate Handling of Rape Allegations at University of Montana
The U.S. Justice Department has announced it will investigate the handling of rape allegations at the University of Montana and the town of Missoula, where the college is located.
Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement saying the department would investigate whether there was a failure to investigate sex assaults and if gender discrimination played a role in, report Bloomberg News and the Missoulian.
The civil investigation will examine 80 rape allegations made over a three-year period.
Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg said his office had done nothing wrong and the federal government was overreaching, according to the Missoulian. Justice officials are “essentially sending a message to every local prosecutor in America” that they can be second-guessed, he said.
