“The Original E-Mail” — “That’s Where I Would Start”: Jack Kufahl’s 5.09 Testimony on Investigating the Origin of the “Nick B.” E-Mails (2018)
The “Nick B.” E-Mails and the Question of Origin
During the November 12, 2018 5.09 hearing, Jack Kufahl, Chief Information Security Officer of Michigan Medicine, was one of four witnesses called in support of University of Michigan Medical School Dean Dr. Marschall Runge’s charges against Dr. Bradley Foerster.
Dr. Foerster’s questioning turned to e-mails attributed to an unidentified individual using the name “Nick B.”
Dr. Foerster described a follow-up “Nick B.” e-mail alleging that Dr. Paul Cronin had approximately $100 million, had fathered a child with Dr. Myria Petrou, and was being extorted by Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou. Dr. Foerster characterized these as false criminal allegations and noted that the communication also contained details concerning the Department of Radiology, including references to Dr. Reed Dunnick and Dr. Ella Kazerooni.
Dr. Foerster told Mr. Kufahl that the “Nick B.” matter had already been reported through departmental channels, the University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE), and University General Counsel Timothy Lynch, but said that no one appeared willing to investigate it.
He then put the central question to Michigan Medicine’s Chief Information Security Officer: could the identity of “Nick B.” be traced?
Mr. Kufahl initially answered:
“I don't know.”
Asked why, Mr. Kufahl said there was “not enough information to determine that.”
Dr. Foerster then asked what information he would need.
“The Original E-Mail”
Mr. Kufahl answered:
“The original e-mail.”
He then specified:
“With full headers attached, which is some of the material we normally ask for when investigating inquiries around origins of e-mails.”
The exchange had now moved from whether “Nick B.” could ultimately be identified to what would be needed to investigate the origin of the e-mail in the first place.
Asked whether the source could be tracked if the full header were available, Mr. Kufahl answered:
“I don't know, that's where I would start.”
Mr. Kufahl explained that the answer would depend on several variables, particularly “the time that's elapsed between this e-mail and now.”
The discussion then turned to IP addresses. Dr. Foerster said that he had been informed through law enforcement that an IP address could be used to track someone and asked whether that was possible.
Mr. Kufahl explained that the scope of his office and his role did not extend beyond Michigan Medicine, while acknowledging:
“there's certainly technologies and capabilities that exist”
When Dr. Foerster asked whether it would therefore be theoretically possible to track the source, Mr. Kufahl remained qualified:
“It depends. There's a lot of variables involved with that type of work.”
Mr. Kufahl did not testify that the identity of “Nick B.” could be determined.
He did, however, identify what he would request to investigate the origin of the e-mails: the original e-mail with its full headers.
And when asked whether that information could be used to track the source, Mr. Kufahl answered:
“I don't know, that's where I would start.”
Follow the 5.09 Record
The broader University of Michigan 5.09 proceedings and related documentary record can be followed through:
Case Index — Documentary Record and Investigations
Primary Documentary Record
November 12, 2018 — 5.09 Hearing Testimony of Jack Kufahl, Chief Information Security Officer of Michigan Medicine
The testimony reproduced below documents the questioning concerning the unidentified “Nick B.” e-mails, their reported contents and prior reporting within the University, the original e-mail and full headers, investigation of e-mail origins, and IP-address tracking.
Certain identifying information has been independently redacted pursuant to a court-ordered confidentiality agreement.
5.09 Documentary Chronology
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Selected Reporting
- Bradley Foerster Submits 140-Exhibit, 1,121-Page Documentary Chronology to FBI for Supervisory Review of the Investigation Involving Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Duaa Altaee
- From One FBI File to a Legislative Proposal: Peter and Maria Foerster Ask Senator Van Hollen's Office and Congressman Jamie Raskin to Consider a Uniform Administrative Framework for Federal Investigations
- Eva Feldman Documentary Chronology: 139 Exhibits on NIH R01NS082304, University Proceedings, and Federal Investigation — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Send Ann Arbor Officials Documentary Chronology on AAPD and Related Federal Investigations — No Response Received
- Timothy Lynch Documentary Chronology: 63 Exhibits on University of Michigan Office of General Counsel, University Investigations, and Law Enforcement — No Response Received
- Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou Documentary Chronology: 8 Exhibits Document More Than Two Years of Efforts to Trace Bank of Ann Arbor's $1.4 Million Sheriff's Sale Credit Bid — No Response Received
Brad Foerster, MD PhD
Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.