Russia-Gate Enters the 5.09 Record: Dr. Bradley Foerster’s November 17, 2018 Letter, Foerster v. Cronin as University Exhibit 39, and the Final Medical School Ad Hoc Committee Hearing
November 17, 2018 — Before the Second 5.09 Hearing
Early on November 17, 2018, before the second of three scheduled hearings in his University of Michigan Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 dismissal proceedings, Dr. Bradley Foerster sent a written letter to Executive Vice Dean Dr. Carol Bradford and the University hearing committee.
The letter was copied to University attorney Daniel Tukel, University President Dr. Mark Schlissel, Provost Dr. Martin Philbert, Medical School Dean Dr. Marschall Runge, Dr. Paul Cronin, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Ms. Duaa Altaee.
Dr. Foerster placed credibility at the center of the letter. He wrote that the principal effect of the draft Hall Render reports and proposed dismissal was to “attack and undermine my credibility.” He contrasted that with Mr. Tukel’s portrayal of him as someone who, at age 45, had suddenly become a “shady character,” “spun conspiracies,” engaged in fraudulent activity, committed court infractions, and attacked the University.
Dr. Foerster told the committee that he believed the matter extended beyond the sexual-harassment and retaliation issues he had described, writing:
“Something here doesn’t add up. Something here isn’t right.”
He also described criminal investigations and encounters with law enforcement and the courts that he believed had violated his rights.
Dr. Foerster then identified Dr. Cronin as a source of information, stating that his report concerning alleged EPIC fraud had been based on “repeated detailed information” from Dr. Cronin and that Dr. Cronin had told him he possessed corroborating evidence.
The final paragraph turned expressly to Russia-Gate.
Dr. Foerster asked Dr. Bradford, the committee, and the University for assistance with what he described as a “matter of critical national security.” He stated that he possessed recordings of conversations with Dr. Cronin from August and September 2016 in which, according to Dr. Foerster, Dr. Cronin had described in detail a Russian scheme to subvert the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Dr. Foerster wrote:
“Many of Dr. Cronin’s statements have proven true.”
He stated that the recordings were then in Ms. Altaee’s possession because of safety concerns involving his two young children. Dr. Foerster asked the University to facilitate release of the recordings and presentation of “critical witness testimony” before a federal judge.
He identified Dr. Foerster, Dr. Cronin, Ms. Altaee, and Dr. Petrou as the witnesses and requested that the process occur in a “controlled, proper and safe manner” because of the stated sensitivity of the matter.
The November 17, 2018 letter is reproduced below.
Later That Day — Foerster v. Cronin Introduced as University Exhibit 39 During the Second Medical School Ad Hoc Committee Hearing
Later that day, during the second 5.09 hearing, Mr. Tukel told the committee that Dr. Foerster had continued to make “wild unsupported claims.” He then introduced Dr. Foerster’s federal lawsuit against Dr. Cronin as University Exhibit 39.
In introducing the lawsuit, Mr. Tukel identified Dr. Cronin not only as a fellow University faculty member, but as:
“the same Paul Cronin who joined with Dr. Foerster in some of the earlier allegations of fraud.”
Mr. Tukel then described one of the allegations in Foerster v. Cronin concerning what Dr. Foerster said Dr. Cronin had told him:
“In this complaint, Dr. Foerster says that Paul Cronin told him that he was recruited by Russian intelligence while in college.”
The relevant November 17, 2018 hearing transcript is reproduced below.
November 26, 2018 — Final Medical School Ad Hoc Committee Hearing: One Final Question
Nine days later, on November 26, 2018, the third and final 5.09 hearing was ending.
After discussion of preparation of the hearing transcript and the committee’s next steps, Dr. Foerster thanked the participants. Dr. Karin Muraszko, Chair of the University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery, then asked to pose one final question.
Dr. Muraszko asked:
“If you had to state why this is happening to you in one sentence, not a long list, just one sentence, why are all this constellation of things coming specifically at you?”
Dr. Foerster answered:
“Because I have information that's critical to parties that are bigger than the University of Michigan.”
Executive Vice Dean Dr. Bradford then concluded the hearing at 1:40 p.m.
The closing pages of the November 26, 2018 hearing transcript are reproduced below.
Following the 5.09 Hearings
Following completion of the hearings, Ms. Altaee told Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou that the recordings identified in the November 17 letter had been stored on her computer and were deleted by an outside party.
The November 17 letter had documented that the recordings were then in Ms. Altaee’s possession.
December 16, 2025 — University Reports No Responsive Records of a Reply
Years later, Dr. Foerster sought to determine whether the University had ever generated a written response to his November 17, 2018 letter.
In FOIA Request 260679, Dr. Foerster requested any and all University replies to the November 17 letter concerning the 2016 presidential election and Russia-Gate. The request specifically identified the letter to Dr. Bradford and the University committee and the individuals who had been copied.
Dr. Foerster subsequently clarified that he had never received a reply, but that his lack of receipt did not establish that no response had ever existed. He therefore asked the University to check with the Office of the General Counsel for any responsive record.
On December 16, 2025, the University responded:
“Your request is denied because there are no responsive records.”
The December 16, 2025 FOIA response is reproduced below.
Related Documentary Records
Earlier sworn record: Dr. Foerster’s September 1, 2018 sworn affidavit identified Dr. Paul Cronin as the source of Russia-Gate-related statements and placed the reported conversations in 2016, before the presidential election.
Later search for the recordings: Dr. Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou later sought the identified Cronin Russia-Gate recordings from the University through FOIA. UM accepted a deposit in 2021, denied the request under the civil-litigation exemption, later invited resubmission, and in 2025 reported no responsive records.
Russia-Gate Documentary Chronology
← Previous
|
Return to Russia-Gate Documentary Chronology
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.