From Russia-Gate to "Nick": What Became of Information Attributed to Maria Petrou and Dr. Paul Cronin?
The correspondence reviews investigative, administrative, legal, and institutional activity involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Ann Arbor Police Department, and the University of Michigan, including matters involving the University's Office of General Counsel, Office for Institutional Equity, Medical School, and Department of Radiology. The letter also discusses records obtained through litigation, the Freedom of Information Act, and the FBI's first interim FOIA production.
Among other topics, the letter addresses:
- Information attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin concerning Maria Petrou.
- Communications attributed to the individual known as "Nick."
- Medical billing and NIH grant allegations.
- Information attributed to Dr. Cronin concerning Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.
- Subsequent investigative, administrative, and institutional activity involving the University of Michigan, law enforcement agencies, federal agencies, and other entities.
The correspondence reviews records spanning nearly a decade and examines what followed after information attributed to Maria Petrou, Dr. Paul Cronin, and the individual known as "Nick" became the subject of investigative, administrative, legal, and institutional review.
Readers who wish to review the complete correspondence and supporting exhibits in a single portable file may download the package below.
June 7, 2026 Letter to FBI and HHS-OIG – Complete Correspondence and Exhibits (PDF)
The complete June 7, 2026 correspondence is provided below for review.
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Related Material: Our Lives Before the Archive
For additional context, readers may wish to review photographs and family records from the period preceding the investigative, administrative, legal, and institutional matters discussed in this correspondence.
Related Reporting
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- May 12, 2026 Joint Status Report Filed After FBI Missed May 4 Production Deadline in “Russia-Gate” FOIA Litigation; New Production Dates Set for May 15 and June 16, 2026
- University of Michigan States No Responsive Documents Exist Regarding Dr. Foerster’s 2018 Psychiatric Peer Review Following Litigated FOIA Appeal
- Bank of Ann Arbor Reported $1,412,380 Sheriff's Sale Purchase; Follow-Up RESPA Request Seeks Reconciliation Record
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 active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.