Case Index
CASE MODEL
A Documentary Record of Cause, Response, and Impact
CATALYST EVENT
INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
Russia-Gate and the Chicken Coop
The documentary record begins with the reported Summer 2016 conversations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during which Dr. Paul Cronin communicated a series of statements to Dr. Bradley Foerster and Duaa Altaee concerning the 2016 United States presidential election, alleged Russian interference, and related matters.
Those reported conversations became the initiating event documented throughout this archive, providing the context for the subsequent FBI, HHS-OIG, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Police Department, and related documentary record.
READ THE DOCUMENTARY ACCOUNT
Russia-Gate and the Chicken Coop
Dr. Paul Cronin's 2016 Disclosures and the Origins of
Dr. Bradley Foerster's FBI File
ARCHIVE NOTE: This archive includes contemporaneous posts written as events unfolded, which may reflect the author’s perspective at the time. More recent entries focus on the underlying documentary record, presenting primary records, FOIA releases, court filings, and related materials with minimal commentary.
THE INVESTIGATIONS
Drs. Foerster and Petrou reported concerns involving medical billing, NIH-funded research, sexual misconduct, and later Russia-Gate in good faith. What followed was a series of overlapping local, federal, and University investigations and proceedings that ultimately turned toward Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, or both.
The documentary record shows communications and
investigative intersections between the four institutions.
ANN ARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
ORIGIN
Maria Petrou, Dr. Myria Petrou’s mother, instructed Dr. Petrou to liquidate the Merrill Lynch accounts and use the proceeds to reimburse expenses Dr. Petrou had paid on behalf of Maria and Petros Petrou. After the accounts were liquidated, Maria Petrou reported Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster to AAPD, alleging that Drs. Petrou and Dr. Foerster had taken the funds.
SCOPE
AAPD investigated alleged embezzlement involving Drs. Myria Petrou and Bradley Foerster, executing search warrants and restraining their bank accounts for more than one year.
DISPOSITION
PROSECUTOR DECLINED CHARGES — MATTER FOUND “CLEARLY CIVIL”
After more than one year of account restraint, the prosecutor cited the Petrou Durable Power of Attorney in AAPD’s possession, which specifically authorized the withdrawal of funds , and concluded that the matter was “clearly civil” and did not rise to the level of criminal culpability.
DOCUMENTARY NOTE
Despite a May 30, 2017 Circuit Court order directing the 15th District Court to accept a petition seeking relief from the March 13, 2017 seizure order concerning Bank of Ann Arbor account ending in #5605, no corresponding District Court file has been identified in the available record concerning the search warrants executed by AAPD.
HHS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
ORIGIN
A complaint submitted under Dr. Myria Petrou’s name alleged medical-billing misconduct at Michigan Medicine. The documentary record establishes that Dr. Petrou did not submit the complaint.
SCOPE
Rather than investigate the medical-billing allegations, HHS-OIG investigated alleged fraud involving NIH Grant R01NS082304, an ALS research grant led by Drs. Bradley Foerster and Robert Welsh. The investigation focused on Dr. Foerster and Duaa Altaee—not Dr. Welsh, whose grant-related performance had been the subject of concerns Drs. Foerster and Petrou reported through separate channels.
DISPOSITION
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DECLINED PROSECUTION
HHS-OIG referred the matter for possible criminal prosecution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined prosecution, and HHS-OIG closed the case in August 2019.
Drs. Foerster and Petrou were not informed of the referral or declination and learned of both only in 2021. FBI records later revealed a separate HHS-OIG debarment process involving both physicians that neither had known existed.
In April 2019, after HHS-OIG informed Drs. Foerster and Petrou that it had no record of Agent Tyson Howard , Dr. Foerster raised the issue with UM General Counsel Timothy Lynch during the ongoing 5.09 proceedings . Subsequent FBI records confirm the participation of an HHS-OIG Special Agent in the March 2, 2018 interview while redacting the agent’s identity. HHS-OIG later reported no responsive debarment records concerning either Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ORIGIN
In June and July 2018, while working part-time during an approved medical leave following spinal surgery, Dr. Bradley Foerster underwent two interviews with University psychiatrist Dr. Kirk Brower for the peer review. During the second interview, Dr. Brower raised the sexual-harassment complaints and asked Dr. Foerster, “How does it feel to always be wrong?”
In early August 2018, on Dr. Foerster’s first full day back from approved medical leave for documented lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy, following lumbar discectomy and lumbar fusion, Interim Radiology Chair Dr. Ella Kazerooni presented him with Dean Marschall Runge’s letter recommending initiation of Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings seeking his dismissal from his tenured faculty position. The proceedings followed Dr. Foerster’s reports to the University concerning sexual harassment and retaliation, Radiology medical billing, and NIH grant-related work. Dean Runge’s 5.09 recommendation cited civil litigation arising from AAPD Case 17-3517, including litigation concerning the unresolved “Nick” issue, as well as the HHS-OIG investigation involving NIH Grant R01NS082304.
SCOPE
The 5.09 process proceeded through an Ad Hoc Medical School Committee, review by a SACUA appeal committee, and review by President Mark Schlissel. Dean Marschall Runge was represented by outside counsel, while Dr. Foerster represented himself throughout the proceedings.
DISPOSITION
DR. FOERSTER RESIGNED
Dr. Foerster resigned effective June 23, 2019, ending the 5.09 proceedings. That same day, Interim Radiology Chair Dr. Ella Kazerooni processed the resignation and informed Dr. Foerster that he would not be recommended for rehire at the University of Michigan.
In 2026, the University initially denied a FOIA request for records documenting the decision and the basis for the decision in Dr. Foerster’s 2018 psychiatric peer review, invoking the peer-review privilege. After litigation and interrogatories, the University stated that “no responsive records exist.”
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
ORIGIN
In July 2017, Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou reported allegations to the FBI involving Michigan Medicine medical-billing fraud, NIH grant fraud, and VA grant fraud. In January 2018, Drs. Foerster and Petrou also reported death threats against Dr. Myria Petrou and Duaa Altaee, as well as Russia-Gate–related information concerning Dr. Paul Cronin and the events of 2016 to the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office.
SCOPE
The released records establish that the FBI participated in the investigation involving NIH Grant R01NS082304, with documented interaction involving HHS-OIG and the University of Michigan. A February 2019 FBI record states “Restitution and debarment both in process” and documents a debarment discussion involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and University of Michigan Office of the Vice President and General Counsel. Successive FBI releases identify Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou in the debarment process.
DISPOSITION
INVESTIGATION CLOSED
The FBI closed its investigative file in December 2019, while recording that HHS still intended to pursue debarment. The released records also document Drs. Foerster and Petrou’s Russia-Gate complaint and two letters to Special Counsel Robert Mueller , but do not establish whether the Russia-Gate information was separately investigated.
Dr. Foerster first learned of the FBI’s investigation of the NIH grant allegations in May 2026 , through records released following his litigated FOIA appeal. The released FBI records also identify a 39-page July 2019 intelligence product (“INTELPROD”) whose substantive contents remain withheld.
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
The investigations and institutional proceedings documented in this Case Index unfolded during a period of profound disruption for Dr. Myria Petrou, Dr. Bradley Foerster, and their two minor children — Maria Eva Foerster and Peter Martin Foerster. Within just over one year of the August 2017 sheriff’s sale, the family was evicted from its Ann Arbor home, Dr. Petrou resigned from the University of Michigan, and the University initiated Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings seeking Dr. Foerster’s dismissal from his tenured faculty position. Dr. Foerster subsequently resigned in June 2019.
The records below document these financial, housing, and professional consequences.
Sheriff’s Sale & Eviction
While the Ann Arbor Police Department investigation remained active and the family’s financial accounts were frozen, Bank of Ann Arbor completed the August 3, 2017 sheriff’s sale of the family’s three Ann Arbor properties. The family was subsequently evicted from 630 Geddes Ridge Avenue in May 2018.
The construction loan ledger records the subsequent principal-payment and charge-off entries but does not identify how the sheriff’s-sale credit bid was reconciled with those entries.
Myria Petrou
Dr. Myria Petrou reported concerns to the University of Michigan involving Radiology medical billing; “Nick,” an individual claiming to be University of Michigan Radiology faculty who made sexual and criminal allegations against Dr. Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster; and a hostile work environment.
The identity of “Nick” remains unresolved to date.
Dr. Petrou ultimately resigned from the University in September 2018, with Radiology Chair Dr. Ella Kazerooni accepting her resignation.
Bradley Foerster
Dr. Bradley Foerster reported concerns to the University of Michigan involving sexual harassment and retaliation, Radiology medical billing, and NIH grant-related work.
AUGUST 2018 — On his first full day back from an approved medical leave, the University initiated Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings seeking his dismissal from his tenured faculty position.
Dr. Foerster ultimately resigned from the University effective June 23, 2019. Radiology Chair Dr. Ella Kazerooni accepted his resignation with a “do not rehire” stipulation.
KEY PEOPLE
The documentary record involves individuals connected through family, friendship, clinical care, research, and University of Michigan Radiology. Many of these relationships predated the investigations and institutional proceedings documented above.
Maria Petrou
Dr. Petrou’s mother whose 2017 report initiated AAPD Case 17-3517.
Paul Cronin, MD
Longtime friend and colleague central to multiple threads in the documentary record.
Aine Kelly, MD
Longtime friend and colleague involved in the Radiology medical-billing concerns.
Ella Kazerooni, MD
Radiology leader appearing at multiple consequential points in the institutional record.
Eva Feldman, MD PhD
Longtime mentor and collaborator on the NIH-funded ALS research program.
Duaa Altaee
Research coordinator whose sexual-harassment reports became part of the later institutional record.
DOCUMENTARY COLLECTIONS
Five documentary collections provide direct access to substantial portions of the underlying record through consolidated chronologies and supporting exhibits, showing how records originating in separate institutions repeatedly converge around the same people, events, investigations, and institutional actions while preserving the distinct documentary trail of each.
EVA FELDMAN
TIMOTHY G. LYNCH
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
ANN ARBOR / AAPD
BANK OF ANN ARBOR
PUBLIC NARRATIVE
Beginning in December 2017 and continuing through 2018, the Ann Arbor Observer published four articles concerning Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster.
Since that reporting, additional records have emerged through University proceedings, law-enforcement investigations, federal records, litigation, and public-record disclosures . That documentary record is organized throughout this Case Index, including the consolidated Documentary Collections immediately above.
Beginning in 2025, Drs. Petrou and Foerster asked the Observer to revisit its 2017–2018 coverage in light of subsequently obtained documentary records. Materials were provided to then-editor John Hilton, later to Editor Brooke Black, and subsequently to Editor Brooke Black and Publisher Danielle Jones.
On September 3, 2026, Drs. Petrou and Foerster directed Black and Jones to the reorganized Case Index and four documentary chronologies containing 282 supporting exhibits. The Observer did not respond to that request.
On October 8, 2026, Drs. Petrou and Foerster followed up with an expanded documentary record totaling 422 supporting exhibits across five chronologies, including a 140-exhibit FBI investigative chronology. They also identified the newly published University of Michigan Bylaw 5.09 dismissal proceedings and records concerning Dr. Petrou's sexual-assault report.
Drs. Petrou and Foerster again asked whether the Observer intends to revisit, supplement, correct, or otherwise address its prior coverage .
Documentary Chronologies
Following the conceptual overview presented in the Case Model, these six documentary essays examine the principal events that shaped the documentary record. Together they trace the reported Summer 2016 Russia-Gate conversations, subsequent federal and institutional responses, and the evolution of the documentary evidence through FBI, CIA, University of Michigan, and related records.
Documentary chronology tracing statements attributed by Dr. Bradley Foerster to Dr. Paul Cronin during the 2016 presidential campaign and the subsequent 2018 record: requests that Dr. Cronin come forward, his written objection to proceeding, correspondence to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Foerster v. Cronin, Dr. Foerster's voluntary dismissal described as an "Act of Good Faith and Trust," and Dr. Cronin's subsequent written response: "I will."
Master chronology tracing NIH Grant R01 NS082304, OIE complaints, AAPD investigations, “Nick,” FBI and HHS-OIG activity, foreclosure proceedings, peer review actions, and years of subsequent FOIA disclosures and litigation.
Background chronology concerning Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou before the FBI records, FOIA litigation, University memoranda, and institutional proceedings.
June 7, 2026 correspondence to the FBI and HHS-OIG reviewing nearly a decade of investigative, administrative, legal, and institutional activity involving Maria Petrou, Dr. Paul Cronin, "Nick," the University of Michigan, and related federal records, and asking what conclusions, if any, were ultimately reached.
June 13, 2026 update to President Donald J. Trump concerning White House Correspondence No. 1023568, records released from Dr. Foerster's 522-page FBI Russia-Gate file, the approaching June 16 final FBI production, and the unresolved status of the White House referral.
Detailed chronology examining the evolution of the "Nick" allegations, the Ann Arbor police investigation, frozen bank accounts, foreclosure and eviction proceedings, and overlapping relationships involving Maria Petrou, Paul Cronin, and the University of Michigan.
About the Archive
These cases document failures of transparency and accountability across law enforcement, academic institutions, and federal oversight bodies, including the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Police Department, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Washtenaw County Prosecutor, Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and Department of Justice FOIA processes.
Federal records remain pending through Department of Justice FOIA litigation.
Selected Recent Filings
On September 3, 2026, Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou sent a documentary inquiry to Drs. Paul Cronin and Aine Kelly concerning the source of funds they provided beginning in 2016 and whether those funds were examined during the 2017 Ann Arbor Police Department investigation led by Detective Bradley Rougeau. The inquiry focuses in part on an $80,000 check from Dr. Cronin dated August 29, 2016, deposited into the subsequently restrained Bank of Ann Arbor account. At an April 14, 2017 hearing attended by Dr. Cronin, City Attorney Thomas Kent, appearing for Detective Rougeau, stated that AAPD believed alleged misappropriated funds had entered the account. The available record does not establish that Dr. Cronin’s $80,000 payment was the basis for the restraint. After receiving no response for one month, Drs. Foerster and Petrou followed up on October 3, 2026, asking Drs. Cronin and Kelly directly where the $80,000 came from, whether any funds they provided during 2016–2018 originated with or were reimbursed by another person or entity, and whether AAPD, Detective Rougeau, Thomas Kent, or others ever questioned them about the funds. The follow-up also asks whether any of these circumstances were connected to unusual events Drs. Foerster and Petrou recall occurring at Drs. Cronin and Kelly’s home on October 3, 2016, while expressly inviting Drs. Cronin and Kelly to state that there was no connection or to provide a different recollection. The September 3 inquiry received no response before the October 3 follow-up.
Following FBI records documenting consultation involving an unidentified Other Government Agency (OGA), Dr. Bradley Foerster submitted a renewed request for his own CIA records. The CIA reported “no responsive documents” for one portion of the request while declining to confirm or deny whether records exist for another. The practical result was straightforward: Dr. Foerster was no closer to knowing whether the CIA maintains records concerning Dr. Foerster than before the request was filed. Dr. Foerster’s September 18, 2026 administrative appeal challenges both determinations and asks where the no-records determination ends and the Glomar determination begins.
On September 7, 2026, Dr. Bradley Foerster sought guidance from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James concerning a record raising questions about civil rights, academic freedom, institutional accountability, and federal investigative activity. The outreach highlighted the FBI’s 500+ page file documenting Russia-Gate reporting and the federal investigation of NIH ALS Grant R01 NS082304; the unresolved identity and authority of “Tyson Howard,” who interviewed Drs. Foerster and Myria Petrou alongside FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas; and an unresolved prosecution-record question after the Eastern District of Michigan reported no responsive records concerning the NIH investigation. Because Foerster and Petrou were living within the Southern District of New York when prosecution was declined in February 2019, a separate SDNY FOIA request remains pending. The officials were provided the Case Index and asked for guidance concerning appropriate New York or federal avenues for further review.
On September 4, 2026, Dr. Myria Petrou renewed her appeal concerning FOIA Request No. 260085 for records held by University attorney Thomas Kent; despite a $1,447 estimate and $723 deposit, more than a year had passed without production or a final determination. The post documents increasingly targeted requests designed to narrow unresolved information gaps, including requests concerning Bank of Ann Arbor account ending in 5605 and the August 29, 2016 $80,000 deposit, AAPD Case No. 17-3517 and its financial investigation, and broader financial, property, business, and alleged financial or criminal matters involving Petrou and Foerster. On September 9, a parallel FBI-records request expanded the inquiry beyond AAPD Case No. 17-3517 to that broader financial subject matter. On September 10, a separate FBI-records request tested another distinct possible subject-matter category: counterintelligence, foreign intelligence, espionage, foreign-agent activity, national-security concerns involving alleged foreign-intelligence or foreign-government activity, and alleged relationships or associations with foreign intelligence agencies, security services, or foreign governments. These requests seek to narrow a central information asymmetry through the underlying records rather than speculation: the University has identified and withheld in full one FBI-generated record referencing Drs. Myria Petrou and Bradley Foerster, while its subject matter remains unknown to them.
On September 1, 2026, the University of Michigan produced records documenting the departure of then-Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Lynch. In an August 4, 2026 email, Lynch wrote that he would “retire from the University of Michigan” effective August 25; President Domenico Grasso characterized the communication as a “resignation letter” and praised Lynch’s “integrity” and service. The date is notable because, on that same day, the University issued its final determination in Dr. Foerster’s separate FOIA request for records held by Lynch concerning Drs. Foerster and Petrou, producing no records and stating that responsive records that exist were exempt from disclosure. The post also documents that six days earlier, on July 29, 2026, Dr. Foerster had transmitted a documentary notice concerning prior University proceedings and related records to Stanford University leadership.
On August 20, 2026, Dr. Bradley Foerster wrote to University of Michigan Vice President and Lead General Counsel Timothy Lynch concerning two discrepancies between University and federal records: the University's identification of a communication involving Dr. Ella Kazerooni and HHS-OIG Agent Tyson Howard that HHS-OIG says it does not have, and FBI records documenting discussion of federal debarment proceedings involving Dr. Foerster and at least one other redacted individual despite HHS-OIG later reporting no responsive debarment-related records concerning Dr. Foerster or Dr. Myria Petrou. The correspondence asks Lynch to account for what records the University possessed, where the federal investigative information originated, and what the University relied upon during the Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings against Dr. Foerster.
Records obtained through Dr. Bradley Foerster's litigated FOIA appeal documented a February 2019 meeting involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and University of Michigan Office of General Counsel in which a debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and at least one other redacted individual was discussed. HHS-OIG subsequently reported that it could locate no responsive debarment-related records concerning Dr. Foerster or Dr. Myria Petrou. In a parallel FOIA inquiry, NIH initially stated that responsive documents would be reviewed “if” located; on August 20, 2026, NIH confirmed that it is now “reviewing documents for releasability.” What those NIH documents establish remains unknown.
After the New York Attorney Grievance Committee informed Dr. Myria Petrou that University of Michigan General Counsel Timothy G. Lynch was not admitted to practice law in New York, Dr. Petrou submitted the official New York Attorney Directory, which reflects that Mr. Lynch was admitted by the Appellate Division, Third Department on May 13, 1997 and is currently registered. The Committee subsequently acknowledged that the information provided "does appear to be correct" and later issued an amended jurisdictional determination transferring the matter to the Committee on Professional Standards of the Appellate Division, Third Department.
After the Executive Office for United States Attorneys reported that the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan located no responsive records concerning a request identified under NIH Grant R01NS082304, Dr. Bradley Foerster submitted a new Freedom of Information Act request concerning the entire matter referenced in the August 21, 2019 HHS Office of Inspector General Closing Investigative Memorandum. That memorandum states that discussions with the Office of the United States Attorney resulted in a declination of criminal prosecution. The documentary record includes the EOUSA response, the HHS-OIG Closing Investigative Memorandum, and the follow-up FOIA request.
After the National Security Agency responded to Dr. Bradley Foerster's July 1, 2026 Freedom of Information Act request, stating that it interpreted the request as seeking intelligence records and neither confirming nor denying the existence of responsive records, Dr. Bradley Foerster submitted an administrative appeal requesting review of the Agency's interpretation of the request. The appeal asks the NSA Appeal Authority to determine whether the request may be processed, in whole or in part, consistent with the Freedom of Information Act, including whether any reasonably segregable non-exempt material should be released if responsive administrative or other non-operational records exist. The outcome of the administrative appeal is not yet reflected in the documentary record presented here.
After Dr. Bradley Foerster obtained the FBI's approximately 500-page Russia-Gate investigative file, Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou wrote to Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin summarizing the chronology documented throughout this archive and describing what they characterize as the "Trump-Democrat Paradox"—their experience of becoming targets under successive Republican presidential administrations while interacting with institutions in predominantly Democratic jurisdictions in Michigan and Maryland. No response to the letter is reflected in the documentary record presented here.
Following more than two years of efforts to trace Bank of Ann Arbor's approximately $1.4 million credit bid from the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou publish their June 30, 2026 documentation letter, executed affidavits, and supporting exhibits. The post documents the progression from the ealier accounting questions through the June 2026 RESPA correspondence, the Bank's final written responses, and the resulting documentary record.
Following the FBI's June 2026 disclosures showing referral and consultation processing within Dr. Bradley Foerster's investigative file, updated Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests were submitted to the Central Intelligence Agency on behalf of Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou. The post also documents earlier 2024 records requests to MI5 and MI6, placing the updated CIA requests in their broader chronological context.
The FBI responded to a Freedom of Information Act request seeking existing administrative records relating to Dr. Bradley Foerster during the period July 1, 2016 through January 20, 2017. After searching its Central Records System, the Bureau reported that it was unable to identify responsive administrative records for that period. The response documents another step in reconstructing the publicly available chronology of the FBI's acknowledged investigation.
Following September 2025 correspondence to President Donald J. Trump concerning allegations commonly described as "Russia-Gate," the White House referred the matter to the Department of Justice, which in turn referred it to the FBI. After the FBI's October 21, 2025 acknowledgment letter and the absence of the anticipated January 2026 response, Dr. Bradley Foerster submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records concerning the referral. The post documents the subsequent FOIA request, administrative appeal, and the FBI's June 25, 2026 confirmation that the request is being processed under FBI FOIPA Request No. 1736344-000.
Dr. Bradley Foerster transmitted a written communication to the FBI Ann Arbor field office and Detroit FBI leadership requesting a federal investigation into missing sheriff’s sale funds and related matters, including Russia-Gate-related statements and “Nick” communications.
“Is the Bank of Ann Arbor Sheriff’s sale on our properties and the FBI Russia-Gate investigation connected?”
The communication references prior FBI contact, including the March 2, 2018 Ann Arbor interview, and confirms successful transmission. No response is reflected in the record.
Correspondence to FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas and HHS-OIG Special Agent Tyson Howard requests clarification regarding investigative predicate, probable cause, inter-agency coordination, and the relationship between FBI, HHS-OIG, University of Michigan, and Ann Arbor Police Department records.
Documents the two categories of evidence attributed to the unidentified individual known as "Nick" in AAPD Case No. 17-3517—the audio recordings and August 2017 emails—and traces their subsequent appearance in federal records. The post reproduces the complementary FOIA requests submitted by Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, the Ann Arbor Police Department's responses, HHS-OIG audit records concerning the DVD, and FBI records acknowledging approximately five minutes of responsive audio, while examining what records document—or do not document—the handling and dissemination of those materials.
Following the Ann Arbor Police Department's response to a FOIA request concerning the "Nick" recordings, Dr. Myria Petrou summarized her understanding of the investigation—including the search warrants, the unidentified individual known as "Nick," and her understanding that a DVD containing the recordings became part of an HHS-OIG investigation—and asked the Department to identify any factual errors in her account. If the Department disagreed with her understanding, she requested that it explain specifically where she was incorrect. If it did not, she asked how it intended to address the matters she raised.
In November 2025, the University of Michigan acknowledged the existence of two Russia-Gate-related records concerning Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou but withheld both from disclosure. The record includes subsequent FOIA requests seeking the factual basis underlying those records, including a June 23, 2026 follow-up request concerning both withheld records.
Two requests.
Two federal agencies.
Two appeals denied by the Office of the President.
Approximately five minutes of audio media identified in a federal investigative file exceeding 500 pages.
No released record yet accounts for how, or whether, those communications relate to the federal record.
FOIA response identifying a single FBI-generated record withheld in full as an “advisory communication.” A subsequent FOIA appeal denial dated May 5, 2026 provided no further description of the record.
Following release of portions of the FBI file, Dr. Myria Petrou wrote to former counsel Cyril Hall asking what allegations were actually being advanced against Drs. Petrou and Foerster, what information had been communicated to law enforcement, and how the newly released FBI records should be reconciled with years of investigations, litigation, and unresolved questions surrounding the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale.
Correspondence to Judge Carol Kuhnke concerning the missing District Court file associated with the March 13, 2017 search warrant proceedings, the subsequent loss of the Foerster–Petrou family home, and Maria Petrou's September 14, 2018 testimony. The letter asks how those matters should be reconciled with the police records, search warrants, and litigation that followed.
Following discovery of previously undisclosed estate-planning documents establishing a Bank of Ann Arbor trust for Maria Petrou, this post examines whether additional undisclosed agreements or financial arrangements may help explain unresolved questions concerning the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale, the disposition of sale proceeds, and related Bank of Ann Arbor records.
Correspondence documents notice to the Office of The Prince of Wales (2022) and to His Majesty The King (2026) regarding federal records and related institutional matters. Clarence House acknowledged receipt of the 2022 correspondence, and Buckingham Palace responded to the 2026 correspondence. A response was received. The issues remain.
Core Investigations & Proceedings
Selected foundational investigations, proceedings, federal records, court filings, and related documentary materials forming the core of the archive.
FBI Investigation (Russia-Gate)
Documentary record concerning Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin, subsequent reporting by Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou to the FBI, correspondence with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, FBI investigative and administrative records, University of Michigan records, and the later federal FOIA litigation in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice.
Documentary chronology: Summer 2016 — reported Russia-Gate statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin → January–March 2018 — FBI reporting, complaint records, and interview activity, including the January 30, 2018 FBI Detroit interview → January–May 2018 — Mueller and Rosenstein correspondence and subsequent FBI processing → September–October 2018 — sworn affidavits and related federal litigation → 2020–2024 — follow-up correspondence and FOIA activity → 2025–2026 — Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, FBI production and review of a 500+ page responsive file, INTELPRODS disclosure, and September 2026 confirmation that 520 pages had been processed with 16 pages remaining in consultation → September 2026 — review of the produced FBI records identifies a December 19, 2019 FBI record stating that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan declined criminal prosecution in HHS-OIG Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4; after EOUSA reported no responsive records from that office, Dr. Foerster filed an administrative FOIA appeal and a new targeted request using FBI Case No. 46H-DE-2595857.
PRIMARY FEDERAL RECORD
Federal Record Summary: FBI Russia-Gate File, AAPD “Nick” Investigation, and University of Michigan Records
A structured summary of FBI FOIA materials, Ann Arbor Police Department investigative records, University of Michigan administrative records, HHS-OIG investigative activity, and related federal-court records concerning the Russia-Gate-related matters documented in this archive.
The materials reflect a documentary sequence beginning with Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin in 2016, followed by the 2017 AAPD “Nick” investigation, FBI and HHS-OIG interview activity in 2018, University of Michigan OGC and Title IX records, a September 1, 2018 sworn federal-court affidavit identifying Dr. Cronin as the reported source of specific Russia-Gate-related statements, and subsequent FBI-related FOIA litigation and productions.
Documents Dr. Foerster’s September 1, 2018 sworn federal-court affidavit identifying Dr. Paul Cronin as the reported source of specific Russia-Gate-related statements, including conversations concerning Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that Foerster placed in September–October 2016, before the election. The affidavit was later refiled as Exhibit B in the litigated FBI FOIA appeal concerning the Russia-Gate-related FBI record.
On September 13, 2026, Dr. Foerster submitted an update to President Donald Trump directing attention to the affidavit’s pre-election chronology and the unresolved question whether Dr. Cronin has ever been asked to affirm or deny on the record the Russia-Gate statements attributed to him.
Documentary chronology tracing statements attributed by Dr. Bradley Foerster to Dr. Paul Cronin during the 2016 presidential campaign and the subsequent 2018 record. The chronology follows requests that Dr. Cronin come forward, his written objection to proceeding, correspondence to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Foerster v. Cronin, and Dr. Foerster’s voluntary dismissal described as an "Act of Good Faith and Trust." It concludes with Dr. Foerster asking Dr. Cronin to come forward and testify honestly and truthfully, and Dr. Cronin’s written response: "I will."
Documents Maria Petrou’s January 26 and February 1, 2018 contacts with FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas at the FBI’s Ann Arbor office concerning her daughter, Dr. Myria Petrou, her son-in-law, Dr. Bradley Foerster, and an individual Maria identified as “Shonda,” a woman from Detroit whom Maria described as controlling or influencing Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster. Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster were unaware of Maria Petrou’s separate FBI contacts at the time and first learned of them when the University of Michigan produced the unredacted FBI records in response to FOIA in September 2019. The production included a January 31 FBI report marked “Do Not Distribute.” The “Shonda” allegation is now cross-documented through Dr. Foerster’s May 2019 letter to Dr. Eva Feldman and the later University of Michigan FOIA 260036 seeking University records or investigations concerning “Shonda” or “MS.”
Documents Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster’s January 30, 2018 walk-in interview at the FBI Detroit Field Office, where they state they went to report a death threat involving Dr. Petrou and Duaa Altaee after receiving no meaningful institutional follow-up. The FBI’s subsequent eight-page complaint form dated February 16, 2018 memorializes extensive information discussed during the interview—including the NIH-funded ALS grant, the AAPD investigation and frozen bank accounts, “Nick,” Dr. Paul Cronin, and Russia-related statements attributed to Dr. Cronin—but does not identify the reported death threat as the purpose of the visit. The reconstructed FBI reporting sequence places the Detroit interview between Maria Petrou’s January 26 and February 1 contacts with FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas, which Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster did not know were occurring at the time.
Documents the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview of Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster with FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas and an HHS-OIG Special Agent whose identity is redacted in the released FBI record. Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster state that the HHS-OIG participant identified himself to them as “Tyson Howard.” The interview followed Maria Petrou’s separate January–February contacts with Special Agent Lucas; Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster remained unaware of Maria Petrou’s FBI contacts throughout this period, including when they met with Lucas on March 2, and did not learn of them until the University of Michigan’s September 2019 FOIA production. The FBI later identified six responsive pages associated with the March 2 interview but released only three, withholding three pages in full; Dr. Foerster’s administrative appeal specifically seeking disclosure of the HHS-OIG agent’s identity was denied.
Documents Dr. Paul Cronin’s March 7, 2018 federal interview at the University of Michigan, conducted five days after Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster again identified Cronin to federal investigators as the source of Russia-related statements attributed to him. A same-day contemporaneous note records Cronin stating that agents did not ask him about the Russia-Gate-related or medical-billing-related allegations and instead questioned him about his relationships with Duaa Altaee, Dr. Foerster, and Dr. Petrou. A later May 2026 DOJ/FBI FOIA production independently documents March 7 federal interview activity, but the substantive interview content in the released FBI record is completely redacted. The released federal record therefore cannot presently confirm or contradict Cronin’s same-day account of what he was asked.
Records released in Dr. Bradley Foerster’s federal FOIA litigation against the U.S. Department of Justice, Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, include three FBI FD-302 interview records from February–March 2018. Two document March 7, 2018 interview activity involving FBI and HHS-OIG personnel, the same date as Dr. Cronin’s separately documented federal interview at the University of Michigan. The substantive interview narratives in the released March 7 records are completely redacted. The production therefore documents the federal interview activity but does not disclose what the March 7 interviewees were asked or what they answered.
Documents a September 1, 2018 sworn affidavit filed by Dr. Bradley Foerster in federal court in Foerster v. Cronin. In the affidavit, Dr. Foerster identifies Dr. Paul Cronin as the source of Russia-Gate-related statements concerning Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, together with additional statements concerning alleged Russian money laundering, intelligence-agency connections, and Maria Petrou. The affidavit places the reported statements in September–October 2016, before the presidential election. The same affidavit was later filed as Exhibit B in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, the federal FOIA litigation concerning Dr. Foerster’s Russia-Gate-related FBI records.
Documents Dr. Bradley Foerster’s September 2018 federal complaint against Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Cronin’s formal responses to allegations concerning “Nick,” University of Michigan medical billing, Russia-related statements, and 620/630 Geddes Ridge. Dr. Cronin’s responses were not uniform: he expressly agreed with one pleaded allegation involving “Nick B,” stated that he lacked sufficient knowledge or information as to another “Nick” allegation involving alleged extortion, and denied the medical-billing and Russia-related allegations. The complaint also asserted fraudulent-misrepresentation and unjust-enrichment claims concerning 620 and 630 Geddes Ridge. Dr. Foerster dismissed the claims on October 3, 2018, before receiving Dr. Cronin’s response, after Dr. Cronin agreed to come forward as a witness; no subsequent witness statement attributed to Dr. Cronin is identified in the record. Dr. Cronin did not file a counterclaim against Dr. Foerster, and the disputed factual allegations were not adjudicated.
Documents the October 4–8, 2018 contemporaneous email thread following dismissal of Foerster v. Cronin. On October 4, one day after the dismissal, Aine Kelly, Dr. Paul Cronin’s wife, contacted counsel concerning a proposed meeting involving Dr. Cronin, Ms. Kelly, Duaa Altaee, Dr. Bradley Foerster, and Dr. Myria Petrou regarding potential legal action involving the University of Michigan Department of Radiology. The participants continued coordinating with counsel over the following days. By October 8, after reviewing Dr. Cronin’s filed response, Dr. Foerster challenged statements in that filing and sought clarification regarding what he viewed as inconsistencies. No response from Dr. Cronin to that request for clarification appears in the email thread reproduced in the archive.
Documents how Russia-Gate entered Dr. Bradley Foerster’s University of Michigan 5.09 proceedings: before the November 17, 2018 hearing, Dr. Foerster asked UM to facilitate presentation of recordings of Dr. Paul Cronin’s 2016 Russia-Gate statements and witness testimony before a federal judge; later that day, University counsel introduced Foerster v. Cronin as University Exhibit 39. The post follows the record through the final Medical School Ad Hoc Committee hearing and UM’s later finding of no responsive records of a reply to Dr. Foerster’s request.
Documents Dr. Paul Cronin’s absence as a witness from Dr. Bradley Foerster’s University of Michigan 5.09 proceedings, despite Dr. Cronin’s central role in issues involving EPIC billing, “Nick,” AAPD Case 17-3517, federal investigative activity, and Russia-Gate. The record shows that Dr. Foerster expressly asked Dr. Cronin to testify under oath; Dr. Cronin acknowledged the request but did not testify. During the later SACUA Review Committee hearing, Dean Runge’s outside attorney, Mr. Daniel Tukel, relied on the absence of testimony, an affidavit, or a recorded statement from Dr. Cronin and questioned “if he was even asked to testify.” The contemporaneous October 25, 2018 correspondence establishes that Dr. Cronin was asked.
Presents selected responses attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Aine Kelly addressing allegations raised by Dr. Myria Petrou, including the identity of “Nick,” University of Michigan medical billing, and Russia-Gate-related statements. The responses are presented alongside related sworn affidavits by Dr. Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster and contemporaneous records from the University of Michigan Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), allowing differing accounts concerning the same subjects to be examined together.
Documents University of Michigan FOIA Request 260537, submitted by Dr. Bradley Foerster for Russia-Gate-related records in files associated with Christine Gerdes of the University of Michigan Office of General Counsel and referring to Dr. Foerster and/or Dr. Myria Petrou. The University identified two responsive records but withheld both in full under claimed exemptions, including attorney-client privilege and advisory communications. Dr. Foerster appealed the withholding to the Office of the President, which denied the appeal on December 2, 2025. The two records remain undisclosed, leaving their contents and significance unresolved.
Presents the November 14, 2025 First Amended Complaint in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, the federal FOIA litigation seeking disclosure of FBI records concerning Dr. Bradley Foerster. The complaint traces the record from Dr. Foerster’s January 29, 2023 FOIA request through the FBI’s identification of approximately 514 potentially responsive pages, later correspondence identifying approximately five minutes of audio and a 2018–2021 date range, and Dr. Foerster’s subsequent narrowing of the request to Russia-Gate-related material. The complaint places that FOIA history alongside the earlier 2016 Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin and asks the Court to compel DOJ to process and disclose the requested FBI records.
Documents the March 4, 2026 Joint Status Report filed in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, in which the parties reported that the FBI had identified more than 500 pages of potentially responsive records concerning the narrowed Russia-Gate-related FOIA request. The filing placed into the federal-court record the existence and substantial scope of the FBI material responsive to the request and contemplated further FBI processing and production. Subsequent FBI productions and court filings further defined the responsive material as approximately 522 pages of records together with responsive audio media.
Presents sworn affidavits by Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou submitted as supplemental exhibits in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice. The affidavits address the source, timing, and substance of Russia-Gate-related statements described in the federal FOIA litigation: Dr. Foerster identifies Dr. Paul Cronin, then a University of Michigan colleague, as the source of statements made in 2016, while Dr. Petrou states that she was not the source. The affidavits place those reported statements before later public reporting concerning the Steele Dossier and provide a sworn source-attribution record within the litigation concerning Dr. Foerster’s FBI records.
Documents a narrowly tailored University of Michigan FOIA request by Dr. Myria Petrou limited to FBI-generated records referring to Dr. Myria Petrou and/or Dr. Bradley Foerster. The University acknowledged that it identified one responsive FBI-generated record but withheld it in full under Michigan FOIA Section 13(1)(m), characterizing it as “communications and notes of an advisory nature.” The result creates a specific information asymmetry: the University acknowledges that the FBI-generated record exists and references Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster, while the individuals referenced in the record cannot see its contents, subject matter, or context. Dr. Petrou appealed the withholding, requesting the record or any reasonably segregable portions. On May 5, 2026, the Office of the President denied the appeal without providing any further description of the record. The FBI-generated record remains withheld in full, and its subject matter remains unknown.
Documents the FBI's first interim production in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, including July 2017 Boston FBI reporting, the 2018 FBI/HHS-OIG interview chronology, Washington, D.C.-area investigative activity, Mueller–Rosenstein correspondence, and University of Michigan-related records. The post also presents contemporaneous, less-redacted FBI administrative records previously obtained through University of Michigan FOIA documenting August 2017 coordination involving the FBI, Ann Arbor Police Department, University of Michigan Office of General Counsel, University of Michigan Police Department, and VA-OIG.
Documents a Russia-Gate reporting and FBI-processing record contained in the FBI’s first tranche. Following Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou’s January 30, 2018 reporting at the FBI Detroit Field Office, where the subsequent FBI complaint record memorialized information concerning Dr. Paul Cronin and Russia-related statements attributed to him, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou wrote to Special Counsel Robert Mueller the following day. The FBI’s own released records subsequently document receipt, processing, and forwarding of Mueller-related correspondence, including a May 11, 2018 FBI Import Form stating that the Foerster letter was forwarded to Special Counsel Mueller “for information,” as well as later materials containing a May 18, 2018 letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Mueller. The released records do not establish what investigative conclusions, if any, resulted from the underlying allegations. Update — Second FBI Tranche: the later production did not resolve that question, but disclosed a July 1, 2019 FBI Electronic Communication opening FBI subfile 46H-DE-2595857-INTELPRODS as a repository for intelligence reports, with 39 associated pages withheld in full. The released records do not establish whether INTELPRODS concerned Russia-Gate reporting, the HHS-OIG/NIH-grant investigation, another investigative subject, or some combination of subjects.
Documents the FBI’s second production, which shows that criminal prosecution was declined and the FBI investigation was later closed while HHS continued to pursue debarment-related action. The records reference NIH Grant R01NS082304, grant restitution, a reduction in the University of Michigan’s NIH letter of credit, and Dr. Bradley Foerster together with one or more additional redacted individuals. Subsequent targeted FOIA requests produced an additional documentary gap: although the FBI records document a 2019 debarment process, HHS-OIG later reported that it could locate no responsive debarment records concerning Dr. Foerster or Dr. Myria Petrou. The ultimate disposition of the debarment process remains unresolved.
Documents a July 1, 2019 FBI Electronic Communication opening subfile 46H-DE-2595857-INTELPRODS as a repository for intelligence reports, several months after an FBI record documented that the United States Attorney's Office had advised that no criminal charges would be brought. Dr. Foerster's FBI FOIA production also included a Deleted Page Information Sheet reflecting 39 pages associated with INTELPRODS withheld in full. Dr. Foerster subsequently submitted a targeted FOIA request, sought clarification from Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Stratton, and filed the disclosure as a supplemental exhibit in federal court. The released records do not establish the subjects, origins, contents, or ultimate disposition of the intelligence reporting associated with the subfile.
Documents the July 13, 2026 Joint Status Report advising the Court that the FBI had completed its productions while Dr. Bradley Foerster continued reviewing the records for remaining issues. Before filing, Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Stratton advised that the FBI had been asked to investigate a page-count discrepancy and confirm the status of records referred for consultation with another government agency. Following further review, Dr. Foerster wrote to AUSA Stratton on September 9, 2026, reporting that he had received no further information concerning the page-count investigation and no further FBI correspondence concerning the interagency consultation or the documents involved. He requested an update on both matters so that the September 11 Joint Status Report could accurately reflect their status.
Following the FBI's release of 520 of the 522 pages of Dr. Bradley Foerster's investigative file, Dr. Foerster sent correspondence to Dr. Paul Cronin requesting clarification regarding events occurring between 2016 and 2018. The correspondence addresses University of Michigan Radiology medical billing, the identity of “Nick,” Dr. Cronin's interactions with the University of Michigan Office of Institutional Equity, Russia-Gate-related statements, and financial representations relating to the 2017 Sheriff's Sale of Drs. Foerster and Petrou's properties. After receiving no response to the initial August 3, 2026 correspondence, Dr. Foerster followed up on August 19, 2026, again providing Dr. Cronin an opportunity to clarify or correct the documentary account. The complete correspondence chain preserves the original questions and the subsequent request for clarification.
On September 11, 2026, Dr. Bradley Foerster and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Joint Status Report in Foerster v. Department of Justice. The FBI reported 520 pages of records and audio processed and 16 pages remaining in consultation with “another entity that is not a party to this litigation.” The parties proposed another status report by November 10, 2026. The identity of the consulting entity and subject matter of the 16 pages remain unknown.
On September 13, 2026, Dr. Foerster submitted an update to President Donald Trump concerning the outstanding 16-page consultation and the underlying Russia-Gate record, including the unresolved question whether Dr. Paul Cronin has ever been asked to affirm or deny on the record the Russia-Gate statements attributed to him.
FBI records released through Foerster v. Department of Justice document a previously unknown federal debarment process involving Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou. A February 21, 2019 FBI Electronic Communication documents a discussion involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and University of Michigan Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, states that debarment was “in process,” and states that supporting paperwork would be documented when the process was complete. FBI records later document an October 2019 inquiry to HHS-OIG concerning the status of the debarment process and state in December 2019 that HHS still intended to pursue debarment. Neither Dr. Foerster nor Dr. Petrou had previously known that such a process existed. After both physicians submitted similar FOIA requests seeking the underlying debarment records, HHS-OIG reported that thorough searches could locate no responsive documents for either physician.
An FBI Electronic Communication dated December 19, 2019, identified as Serial 36, FBI Case No. 46H-DE-2595857, states that criminal prosecution was declined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The earlier August 21, 2019 HHS-OIG Closing Investigative Memorandum documented a prosecutorial declination but did not identify the U.S. Attorney’s Office involved. A July 2026 EOUSA search of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan produced no responsive records. On September 17, 2026, Dr. Foerster filed an administrative FOIA appeal and a new targeted FOIA request using FBI Case No. 46H-DE-2595857 and additional identifiers from the federal investigative records. On September 24, 2026, EOUSA again reported no responsive records after a second search using FBI Case No. 46H-DE-2595857, HHS-OIG Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4, NIH Grant R01NS082304, Bradley Foerster, and Myria Petrou. The determination did not state that responsive records were destroyed or that requested records could not be located. Dr. Foerster subsequently asked the FBI to clarify whether the matter was actually presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and, if so, what FBI record memorializes the declination and the reasons for it.
On September 24, 2026, Dr. Foerster asked whether the HHS-OIG investigation concerning NIH Grant R01NS082304, Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4, was the investigative predicate, in whole or in part, for FBI activity reflected in more than 500 pages of records and audio. Federal records describe HHS as “jointly investigating this matter with the FBI,” and the September 11, 2026 Joint Status Report states that the FBI processed 520 pages of records and audio in response to Dr. Foerster’s FOIA request. The inquiry also addresses a central records discrepancy: FBI records repeatedly document a criminal-prosecution declination and identify the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan as the office that declined prosecution, yet two searches of that office have revealed no responsive records, including a targeted search using FBI Case No. 46H-DE-2595857. The FBI is now being asked directly: was the NIH grant investigation the predicate for the 500+ pages of FBI activity, and what explains the absence of records at the U.S. Attorney’s Office the FBI says declined prosecution?
The September 11, 2026 Joint Status Report in Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice states that 16 pages remain in consultation with “another entity that is not a party to this litigation.” The FBI had previously described the consultation as involving an “Other Government Agency [OGA],” while Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Stratton later indicated, according to Dr. Foerster’s recollection of a conversation in preparation for the Joint Status Report, that she was not certain whether the consulting entity was actually another government agency. Three University of Michigan records concerning the NIH grant investigation and subsequent Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings total exactly 16 pages: a 6-page Hall Render Executive Summary, Dr. Marschall Runge’s 4-page August 6, 2018 5.09 initiation letter, and the 6-page December 19, 2018 Ad Hoc Committee Final Report. The Hall Render record documents an OIG Special Agent contacting the University “referencing a Dr. Foerster case,” while the 5.09 proceedings subsequently used issues concerning the same NIH grant. On September 24, 2026, Dr. Foerster asked DOJ whether the University of Michigan is the entity involved in the FBI’s 16-page consultation and whether University records became incorporated into the FBI investigation. Dr. Foerster separately asked University President Domenico Grasso and General Counsel Patricia Petrowski whether the identified University records were provided to federal investigators. The exact 16-page match may be coincidental; the inquiries ask both sides to clarify whether the records are connected.
Following the recent production of Dr. Foerster’s FBI file through FOIA litigation, Dr. Foerster submitted a 140-exhibit, 1,121-page documentary chronology to the FBI for supervisory review of the investigation involving Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Duaa Altaee. The request asks the FBI to compare the chronology against its complete, unredacted record. It addresses the NIH grant investigation; transfers of information among investigators and the University of Michigan; debarment and criminal referral involving Drs. Foerster and Petrou without their knowledge; “Tyson Howard”; and Russia-related information retained in Dr. Foerster’s FBI file. Dr. Foerster expressly asks the FBI to provide a written response and disposition of the supervisory-review request.
FORMAL NOTICE & ESCALATION
Notices to Congress and University of Michigan – FBI Records Production (Foerster v. DOJ)
Date: April 4–5, 2026
This record documents formal notices issued to Congress, including Representative Jamie Raskin, University of Michigan leadership, and the Board of Regents, regarding the anticipated production of a 500+ page FBI file. The notices were issued prior to federal disclosure to establish institutional awareness of the pending release and its potential relevance to prior representations and institutional actions. Production was scheduled to begin on or before May 4, 2026 following the March 2026 Joint Status Report.
CONGRESSIONAL & OVERSIGHT SUBMISSIONS (ONGOING)
DOJ Confirms 500+ Page FBI File (Congressional Submissions)
This record presents ongoing formal submissions to the DOJ Office of Inspector General, Congressional committees, and state authorities following DOJ confirmation of a 500+ page FBI file in FOIA litigation (Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice). These submissions place federal and state oversight bodies on notice of the confirmed investigative record, continued withholding of materials, and the potential implications of undisclosed investigative activity.
The “Tyson Howard” Identity Question: From the FBI Interview to the HHS-OIG and University of Michigan 5.09 Records (2018–2026)
The records below document efforts to identify the individual who identified himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard” during the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview. The released FBI record confirms the participation of an HHS-OIG Special Agent while redacting the agent’s identity. The chronology that follows traces subsequent affidavits, University of Michigan 5.09 records, correspondence, FOIA proceedings, investigative follow-up, and the September 2026 request for congressional constituent assistance from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.
The information and temporal asymmetry are stark: the identity and official role of an individual who participated in the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview as an HHS-OIG Special Agent remained unresolved to Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou during Dr. Foerster’s Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings and remained unresolved years later despite repeated efforts to obtain the underlying records.
Timeline: March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview → sworn affidavits (April 10, 2019) → Tyson Howard issue addressed during SACUA appeal proceedings (May 1, 2019) → Dr. Foerster asks University of Michigan Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Lynch to “look into this matter” (May 20, 2019) → written communication to FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas (September 2020) → HHS-OIG FOIA requests and contact attempts (2021) → HHS-OIG appeal decision (2022) → follow-up letter to FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas (December 2024) → Dr. Foerster re-raises the unresolved Tyson Howard question with FBI Ann Arbor and Detroit leadership (February 2026) → HHS-OIG FOIA Request No. 26-0589 seeks records concerning Howard’s official role in Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4 (2026) → Dr. Foerster requests constituent assistance from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen regarding HHS-OIG’s status and determination of the request (September 7, 2026).
As of September 7, 2026, the documentary record reviewed for this archive does not resolve Howard’s official role in HHS-OIG Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4.
The HHS-OIG “Tyson Howard” Question: Sworn Affidavits, the FBI Interview, and the University of Michigan 5.09 Proceedings
This record presents sworn affidavits executed by Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou on April 10, 2019 concerning the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview and subsequent efforts to verify the identity of the individual who identified himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard.” The record also documents Daniel Tukel's response to the Tyson Howard issue during Dr. Foerster's May 2019 SACUA appeal and Dr. Foerster's subsequent May 20, 2019 request that University of Michigan Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Lynch “look into this matter.” The documentary record reviewed for this archive reflects no substantive response from Lynch to that request.
September 24, 2020: Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou Ask FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas to Account for “Tyson Howard” at the March 2, 2018 FBI Interview
Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou wrote to FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas concerning the individual who participated in the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview identifying himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard.” They asked Lucas to account for his presence after subsequent efforts had failed to verify his identity.
The record also documents a discrepancy in FBI interview records: the University of Michigan possessed unredacted January–February 2018 FBI interview materials, while no record of the March 2, 2018 Ann Arbor interview was produced by the University; that FBI report was later obtained through a DOJ FOIA request in redacted form.
No response to this communication is reflected in the record.
HHS-OIG Located Records Relating to “Tyson Howard” — Then Withheld Them in Full (2021–2022)
This record documents HHS-OIG FOIA responses and an administrative appeal concerning identifying records for “Tyson Howard.” HHS-OIG located responsive material but withheld the requested records in full. On appeal, HHS described the withheld material as including a federal agent badge ID and email address concerning an individual who was not a target of the investigation but was mentioned in law-enforcement files.
December 6, 2024: Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou Again Ask FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas About “Tyson Howard” After No Response to Their 2020 Letter
Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou again wrote to FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas, re-raising the unresolved question concerning the individual who participated in the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview identifying himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard.” The follow-up documented no recorded response to their September 24, 2020 communication and again sought clarification concerning the March 2018 interview and related investigative matters. No response to the December 2024 follow-up is reflected in the record.
February 21, 2026: Dr. Foerster Re-Raises “Tyson Howard” with FBI Ann Arbor and Detroit Leadership, Requests Investigation of Sheriff’s-Sale Funds and Russia-Gate Connection
Dr. Foerster wrote directly to FBI Ann Arbor and Detroit leadership, re-raising the unresolved question concerning the individual who participated in the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview identifying himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard.” Dr. Foerster asked the FBI to clarify what it had investigated concerning Howard and related investigative activity, including statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin and “Nick” recordings concerning alleged extortion. The Howard issue was raised within a broader request for investigation of approximately $1.4 million in sheriff’s-sale proceeds and a possible connection to previously reported Russia-Gate-related allegations. As of September 7, 2026, no response to the Tyson Howard questions raised by Dr. Foerster is reflected in the record.
Who Was “Tyson Howard”? HHS-OIG FOIA Request Seeks Records of Special Agent’s Role in NIH Grant Investigation — Written Determination Requested and Senator Van Hollen’s Office Asked to Assist
This record documents HHS-OIG FOIA Request No. 26-0589, submitted on June 17, 2026, seeking records concerning the assignment, participation, supervision, approval authority, office assignment, responsibilities, duties, and role of HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard” in HHS-OIG Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4, a federal criminal investigation involving NIH ALS Grant R01 NS082304 that reached the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ended with a declination of criminal prosecution. After HHS-OIG did not provide a determination, Dr. Foerster followed up on August 21 and September 3, 2026. On September 21, 2026, citing 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i), Dr. Foerster specifically requested that HHS-OIG issue its written determination letter. Dr. Foerster also requested constituent assistance from the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen regarding the outstanding status and determination of FOIA Request No. 26-0589.
Three FBI Interviews, One Name: New HHS-OIG FOIA Requests Seek Records Identifying “Tyson Howard”
After Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou reported that an individual identifying himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard” participated in their March 2, 2018 FBI interview, HHS-OIG subsequently advised that it had no record of an employee by that name. The identity question extends to two additional FBI interviews: Dr. Paul Cronin and Duaa Altaee each identified “Tyson Howard” as participating in their respective March 7 and July 10, 2018 interviews, while FBI records independently document the presence of an HHS-OIG/HHS Special Agent at those interviews. Altaee’s physical description of the individual identified as Tyson Howard did not match the description provided by Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou. Dr. Foerster therefore submitted three interview-specific HHS-OIG FOIA requests seeking the agency’s own records concerning Tyson Howard’s participation in the Foerster/Petrou, Cronin, and Altaee interviews.
NIH Says “We Have Provided Everything We Are Required to at This Time” — But Still Has Not Said Whether It Located Responsive Records: New FOIA Seeks Determination Letter, Senator Van Hollen Asked to Assist
After FBI records documented a debarment process involving Dr. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou, while HHS-OIG later reported no responsive records concerning a debarment process involving either individual, Dr. Foerster submitted NIH/NINDS FOIA Request No. 66155 seeking NIH records concerning debarment and other administrative action. NIH initially stated that “if” responsive documents were located they would be reviewed, later stated that it needed additional time to “review the documents and make any necessary consultations,” and then resent the original conditional acknowledgment while extending its estimate by another four to six weeks. After Dr. Foerster repeatedly requested NIH’s written FOIA determination, NIH stated, “We have provided everything we are required to at this time,” but did not provide the requested determination or state whether the August 3 acknowledgment constituted that determination. After NIH did not respond to a final request to clarify its position, Dr. Foerster filed a separate FOIA request seeking the determination letter itself, defined under the D.C. Circuit’s CREW v. FEC decision. Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office has also been asked to assist in obtaining NIH’s determination.
HHS-OIG Case 5-17-0-0192-4 — Documentary Overview (2017–2026)
In July 2017, Dr. Myria Petrou submitted a complaint to HHS-OIG concerning Dr. Robert Welsh’s work on NIH Grant R01NS082304. Five days later, a separate radiology medical-billing complaint was submitted under Dr. Petrou’s name without Dr. Petrou’s knowledge. HHS-OIG closed Dr. Petrou’s actual July 15 complaint on October 5, 2017. Dr. Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster did not discover the separate July 20 complaint until 2024.
The FBI records add critical context. Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou traveled to the FBI’s Boston Field Office because, as the FBI recorded, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou “did not trust law enforcement in Michigan.” According to the FBI record, earlier reports had gone nowhere and appeared to have been “swept under the rug” because a larger fraud might be involved.
By August 2017, however, the assessment had returned to Ann Arbor. FBI Special Agent Susan Lucas communicated directly with University Associate General Counsel Christine Gerdes about the University’s internal review. During the same assessment, Special Agent Lucas reviewed the federal lawsuit alleging intimidation and an improper Ann Arbor Police Department investigation, contacted AAPD Detective Bradley Rougeau about possible overlap, and obtained AAPD records too voluminous to email. Detective Rougeau told Special Agent Lucas that information developed by AAPD could support the healthcare-fraud allegations.
Special Agent Lucas also contacted University of Michigan Police Chief Robert Neumann and VA-OIG Special Agent Ray White. The FBI complaint package combined the federal lawsuit, University information, and AAPD records provided on disk.
HHS-OIG’s October 6, 2017 opening memorandum for Case No. 5-17-0-0192-4 identifies both MiChart up-coding allegations within University of Michigan Radiology and alleged fraud involving NIH Grant R01NS082304. The September 2018 HHS-OIG interim memorandum and August 2019 HHS-OIG closing memorandum describe the grant investigation but do not discuss the MiChart allegations. The released records do not identify findings resolving the medical-billing allegations.
While HHS-OIG was investigating, the University began Bylaw 5.09 dismissal proceedings against Dr. Foerster. Dean Runge’s September 7, 2018 charge letter stated that HHS-OIG had conveyed “serious concerns” about Dr. Foerster’s conduct on the grant, particularly Dr. Foerster’s supervision of Ms. Altaee. The letter also cited Dr. Foerster’s reporting of alleged fraud involving Dr. Welsh and MiChart as grounds for dismissal, asserting that external investigations had not substantiated the allegations.
HHS-OIG closed the criminal case in August 2019 after the U.S. Attorney declined prosecution. When Dr. Petrou obtained the closing memorandum in 2021, both Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou understood the memorandum to concern Dr. Petrou’s July 15 grant complaint. Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou did not yet know about the separate July 20 complaint submitted under Dr. Petrou’s name.
Further records emerged after Dr. Foerster sought assistance from Senator Ben Cardin’s office. On May 1, 2025, HHS-OIG partially released 12 pages, including heavily redacted interview reports, and identified an Ann Arbor Police Department DVD. AAPD later produced the DVD, containing previously released “Nick” email communications. Also on May 1, 2025, HHS-OIG separately reported no responsive records of medical-billing/MiChart investigations or reports at University of Michigan Radiology for 2017–2020. Dr. Foerster requested Inspector General review on May 24, 2025; no reply is reflected in the available record.
FBI releases in 2026 revealed a 2019 restitution and debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou, previously unknown to Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou. The February 21, 2019 FBI record documents a discussion involving the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President and General Counsel. Both Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou sought the underlying debarment records. On July 2, 2026, HHS-OIG reported no responsive debarment documents for either Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou. The basis for including Dr. Petrou, an unfunded co-investigator on NIH Grant R01NS082304, remains unexplained.
The Executive Office for United States Attorneys also reported no responsive records at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, identified in a December 2019 FBI record as the office responsible for declining prosecution.
Taken together, the records trace an HHS-OIG complaint submitted under Dr. Petrou’s name without Dr. Petrou’s knowledge, the resulting HHS-OIG NIH grant investigation of Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou, and the University’s reliance on HHS-OIG concerns in Dr. Foerster’s dismissal proceedings. FBI records document prosecution review and debarment efforts involving Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou. The Executive Office for United States Attorneys later reported no responsive records at the prosecuting office, and HHS-OIG reported no responsive debarment documents for Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou.
I. Dr. Petrou’s NIH Grant Complaint and the Billing Complaint She Did Not Submit
Dr. Petrou submitted a complaint about Dr. Robert Welsh’s work on NIH Grant R01NS082304 on July 15, 2017. Five days later, HHS-OIG received a separate medical-billing complaint naming Dr. Petrou as complainant and Dr. Foerster as witness. Dr. Petrou did not submit it. HHS-OIG disclosed records in 2024 that prompted Dr. Petrou to ask HHS-OIG to remove her name from the July 20 complaint and to question Dr. Cronin and Dr. Kelly about its contents and submission time.
II. FBI Records and Efforts to Establish the HHS-OIG Investigation’s Scope
The first documentary account of the federal reporting came from the University of Michigan, not HHS-OIG. In September 2019, the University released FBI records documenting Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou’s July 28, 2017 complaint to the FBI’s Boston Field Office, their federal lawsuit against Ann Arbor officials, direct FBI communications with University Associate General Counsel Christine Gerdes, and the transfer of Ann Arbor Police Department records to the FBI.
Beginning in 2021, Dr. Foerster sought to determine why records concerning NIH Grant R01NS082304 showed an October 2017 administrative closure and an August 2019 criminal-investigation closure. At that time, neither Dr. Foerster nor Dr. Petrou knew about the separate July 20, 2017 billing complaint submitted under Dr. Petrou’s name. HHS-OIG disclosed the investigation’s opening memorandum in January 2024. That memorandum identified both medical-billing and NIH grant allegations, while the closing memorandum addressed only the NIH grant. The records and correspondence below document the effort to determine what HHS-OIG investigated, obtain the underlying case records, and secure Inspector General review.
III. Prosecution Declination, Restitution, and Debarment — Later FBI Disclosures
In 2026, FBI disclosures in Dr. Foerster’s FOIA litigation revealed discussions about restitution and debarment that Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou had not known about at the time. A February 21, 2019 FBI record documented discussions involving HHS-OIG and University counsel, described restitution and debarment as “both in process,” and reported that the U.S. Attorney had declined criminal charges. Differently redacted releases identified Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou in the debarment passage; a third name remains redacted. HHS-OIG subsequently reported no responsive records concerning the FBI-documented debarment process involving Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou. Two searches of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan—the office the FBI identified as declining prosecution—also yielded no responsive records. Dr. Foerster returned to the FBI for answers about the investigation’s basis, referral, and disposition.
IV. Unresolved Grant Finances and Requests for Assistance
Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster first raised the grant-finance questions with Dana Habers at the University of Michigan in 2020: how had NIH grant disbursements continued after the University’s Institutional Review Board suspended and later terminated the associated studies, and had anyone used Dr. Petrou’s ALS Association study IRB without Dr. Petrou’s knowledge? On September 26, 2026, Dr. Petrou renewed those questions with Dr. Eva Feldman, now drawing on additional financial and investigative records and asking about retrospective salary or effort adjustments. The following day, Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster forwarded the correspondence to Prosecutor Savit, Attorney General Nessel, and Governor Whitmer, asking for help obtaining answers, reconciling sheriff’s-sale proceeds, and resolving outstanding University and police records requests. On October 16, 2026, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou requested a meeting with General Counsel Patricia Petrowski to explain University counsel’s actions during Timothy Lynch’s tenure, clarify any restitution payments or agreements concerning Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou, and establish whether any restrictions remain in effect.
Federal Grant Oversight — NIH Review (R01 NS082304)
NIH administrative review concluding “no findings” (Jan 2, 2019 memorandum), following a complaint submitted by Dr. Myria Petrou to the HHS Office of Inspector General. Subsequent records—including the final Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR), the grant’s required report of work performed, and subaward documentation—reflect the underlying research activity and reported effort referenced in the complaint. The NIH declined to state whether the RPPR was considered as part of the assessment.
HHS-OIG DVD Records and Cross-Institutional Circulation of the "Nick Bee" Communications (2017)
The records below document the circulation of the August 2017 "Nick Bee" communications among the Ann Arbor Police Department, HHS-OIG, and the University of Michigan, together with the "Nick" AAPD DVD referenced during the HHS-OIG investigation and subsequent FOIA records documenting the handling of those materials.
Ann Arbor Police Department DVD Identified by HHS-OIG: Initial Denial and Subsequent Production
Ann Arbor Police Department DVD (Case 17-3517): August 2017 Email Communications Referencing Paul Cronin
Cross-Institutional Records: “Nick Bee” Communications Across Ann Arbor Police Department, HHS-OIG, and University of Michigan (AAPD Case 17-3517)
AAPD “Nick” DVD Evidence in HHS-OIG Investigative File — HHS-OIG Reports No Responsive Records Explaining Its Transfer or Handling
AAPD evidence containing the “Nick” allegations was present in the HHS-OIG investigative file; later targeted searches located no responsive HHS-OIG records documenting its transfer or handling.
The same communications appear across multiple institutional records.
University of Michigan OGC & OIE Records: "Nick Bee" Communications (2017–2023)
University records reflecting the intake and subsequent handling of communications attributed to an unidentified witness ("Nick Bee"), reflecting sexual and criminal allegations against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, entering through the Office of General Counsel in August 2017, later appearing in Dr. Petrou's October 2018 Title IX memorandum, and culminating in the University Office of General Counsel's March 22, 2023 statement that "No matters involving Nick will be investigated."
Timeline: August 2017 OGC receipt of the "Nick Bee" communications → December 2017 sworn affidavit of Dr. Paul Cronin → October 1, 2018 OIE memorandum documenting the "Nick Bee" allegations → EEOC and related litigation → March 22, 2023 University OGC response stating, "No matters involving Nick will be investigated."
Dr. Paul Cronin Deposition Testimony Concerning “Nick,” Recordings, and Extortion Allegations
GoosiLeaks Excerpts (2017): “Nick,” Cronin Sworn Testimony, and University of Michigan Institutional Awareness
University of Michigan FOIA Production (February 21, 2019) – Office of General Counsel Intake of “Nick Bee” Communications Alleging Dr. Ella Kazerooni Was His and Dr. Paul Cronin’s “Boss” (August 2017)
“...he does respect and care about our boss Dr. Ella Kazerooni. She has always been invested in all of her employees.”
— Communication attributed to “Nick Bee”
Dr. Ella Kazerooni Copied on April 2018 Email Requesting Investigation of “Nick B.”
In April 2018, Drs. Myria Petrou and Bradley Foerster sent an escalation email to University of Michigan General Counsel Timothy Lynch requesting investigation into the identity and University connections of “Nick B.,” copying Dr. Ella Kazerooni, then Interim Chair of Radiology. The correspondence referenced recordings attributed to “Nick B.” together with texts attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin stating that “Nick B.” was believed to be a colleague within the University of Michigan Department of Radiology. Subsequent records identified Dr. Kazerooni as “our boss” within contemporaneous “Nick Bee” communications, yet no released University or Ann Arbor Police Department record reviewed by Drs. Petrou and Foerster documents investigators asking whether she knew or could identify “Nick Bee.” In subsequent federal litigation, Dr. Kazerooni denied knowledge of “Nick B.” or his allegations despite having been copied directly on the April 2018 correspondence.
September 27, 2018 Deposition of Dr. Aine Kelly: “I approved of us using them to assist our friends.”
Deposition excerpts concerning loans, joint financial decisions, and attorney-fee arrangements involving Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou.
EEOC Records and University of Michigan Responses Concerning “Nick” Allegations (2017–2018)
Contemporaneous EEOC records, University of Michigan OGC responses, and later OIE records concerning the “Nick Bee” allegations, harassment complaints, and institutional review activity between 2017 and 2018.
Federal Defamation Complaint and Responses: Petrou v. Kazerooni (2019)
Selected excerpts from the federal litigation matter Petrou v. Kazerooni, including defamation-related allegations, responses, and affirmative defenses concerning alleged defamatory statements involving “Nick B”, annual review documentation, false sexual/criminal allegations, and related institutional communications.
Later Development (2023)
University of Michigan OGC Attorney Gloria Hage: “No Matters Involving Nick Will Be Investigated” — Dr. Myria Petrou’s Request for Renewed Investigation, Concealed 2018 Inquiry, and Bylaw 5.09 Proceedings (March 22, 2023)
“No matters involving Nick will be investigated… No further response.”
"Nick" was an unidentified witness who claimed to be University of Michigan faculty and whose sexual and criminal allegations against Drs. Myria Petrou and Bradley Foerster were used by the Ann Arbor Police Department to justify continuing its criminal investigation of the couple. The University of Michigan conducted an unsuccessful inquiry into "Nick's" identity but concealed that investigation from Drs. Petrou and Foerster. After Dr. Petrou requested a renewed investigation through the Police Department Oversight Committee, OGC attorney Gloria Hage stated that no University official would investigate the matter further.
Formal Ethics Complaint – Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou (January 10, 2026)
This record presents a formal ethics complaint submitted to University of Michigan and City of Ann Arbor leadership concerning the conduct of Office of General Counsel personnel, including Thomas Kent, Christine Gerdes, and Gloria Hage, following the events and institutional actions documented above.
University of Michigan Peer Review Proceedings
The records below document the University's peer review proceedings concerning Dr. Bradley Foerster, including administrative notices, FOIA requests and appeals, litigation, and subsequent proceedings concerning the existence and production of peer review records.
These determinations raise questions under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. § 11112), which establishes standards for professional review actions, including requirements for adequate notice and the ability of a physician to review and respond to actions affecting professional standing.
Following interrogatories in litigated Michigan Court of Claims FOIA proceedings, the University of Michigan stated under oath that no written peer review decision and no written statement of the basis for the decision regarding Dr. Foerster’s 2018 psychiatric peer review.
The action is documented. The record is not.
Ann Arbor Police Department Investigation (Case 17-3517)
This collection documents AAPD Case 17-3517, initiated following financial allegations by Maria Petrou concerning her daughter, Dr. Myria Petrou, and son-in-law, Dr. Bradley Foerster. It traces the investigation, search warrants, frozen bank accounts, criminal prosecution requests, court proceedings, property losses, prosecutorial determination, and subsequent FOIA disclosures.
In February 2013, Maria and Petros Petrou granted Dr. Myria Petrou Durable Power of Attorney over their Merrill Lynch accounts, including authority to transfer funds and make specified gifts. Following Maria Petrou's January 2017 complaint, Detective Bradley Rougeau obtained search warrants that initially acknowledged the power of attorney but later incorporated allegations concerning Dr. Paul Cronin and an unidentified individual known as “Nick.” The AAPD search warrants resulted in Dr. Petrou's and Dr. Foerster's bank accounts remaining frozen for more than a year. Because no corresponding District Court file was available to challenge the search-warrant seizures, the couple sought relief in Circuit Court, which granted superintending control on May 30, 2017.
The police record documents Maria and Petros Petrou's initial interest in criminal prosecution. In an April 2017 recording, Maria stated, “If they want to go to jail,” while Duaa Altaee responded, “But this is not criminal Maria.” Maria subsequently asked Detective Rougeau to drop the case. During this period, AAPD incorporated allegations attributed to “Nick,” including claims that Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou were extorting Dr. Paul Cronin, into its search-warrant affidavits. On June 20, 2017, Dr. Cronin denied under oath knowing “Nick” or recognizing the recorded voice. Eight days later, on June 28, attorney Jim Reach communicated Maria and Petros Petrou's renewed interest in criminal prosecution.
Bank of Ann Arbor refused loan payments in connection with the AAPD search warrants, followed by foreclosure in May 2017 and the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale of three properties. AAPD submitted arrest-warrant requests on July 20, 2017, but on February 7, 2018, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor declined embezzlement charges, describing the matter as “clearly civil”, citing a “lack of crime elements”, and referencing Dr. Petrou's power of attorney. On April 23, 2018, the court ordered the eviction of Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, and their two minor children from 630 Geddes Ridge Avenue. The Bank subsequently sold 620 and 630 Geddes Ridge Avenue to University of Michigan professors Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers for $1,842,000 in November 2018.
Despite more than two years of requests by Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou, documented in eight supporting exhibits, Bank of Ann Arbor has not provided them with a reconciliation of its approximately $1.4 million sheriff's-sale credit bid with the $1,151,261 principal reduction and $294,675.65 charge-off recorded in the Bank's own loan ledger.
The subsequent record documents that Dr. Petrou's FOIA request and appeal for the search-warrant affidavits were denied, followed by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission's release of the six AAPD search warrants and supporting affidavits to Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou for the first time. It also includes Maria Petrou's November 2021 sworn statement denying that she had accused Dr. Foerster or Dr. Petrou of embezzlement, a seventh Google search warrant concerning “Nickbee,” and unsuccessful efforts to identify “Nick.”
The chronology concludes with former Ann Arbor City Attorney Thomas Kent, who joined the University of Michigan Office of General Counsel shortly after submitting his response to the Attorney Grievance Commission. A 2025 FOIA request seeking University records held by Mr. Kent or his assistants concerning Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou remains unresolved, despite a $1,447 processing estimate, a paid $723 deposit, and more than a year of extensions, with no responsive records produced or final determination issued.
Despite repeated requests, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou have not received substantive responses from former foreclosure attorneys Michael Reynolds and Mark Evans, or attorney Cyril Hall, concerning Bank of Ann Arbor's sheriff's-sale proceeds, mortgage and encumbrance records, or possible third-party financial agreements. On October 12, 2026, Dr. Foerster wrote to Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking who in Michigan has the authority and independence to investigate AAPD Case 17-3517, the related Bank of Ann Arbor foreclosure and eviction proceedings, and the University's use of the resulting civil litigation as grounds supporting his dismissal under Regents' Bylaw 5.09. The letter followed repeated requests for investigation to Attorney General Dana Nessel and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, neither of whose offices had undertaken the independent investigation sought. Dr. Foerster questioned whether Attorney General Nessel's and Prosecutor Savit's institutional ties to the University of Michigan presented conflicts of interest that could explain the absence of an independent investigation. In a second email that day, Dr. Foerster asked whether an undisclosed agreement unknown to Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou was being relied upon concerning Bank of Ann Arbor's sheriff's-sale proceeds, restitution referenced in FBI records, or decisions not to investigate.
The documentary chronology below provides the underlying police records, search warrants, court proceedings, sworn statements, property records, prosecutorial decision, and FOIA correspondence for independent examination.
Foundational Document — Durable Power of Attorney (2013)
Executed on February 3, 2013 and provided to the Ann Arbor Police Department during the March 2017 investigation, the durable power of attorney granted Dr. Myria Petrou authority over Maria and Petros Petrou's Merrill Lynch accounts subsequently referenced in AAPD Case 17-3517.
I. Initial AAPD Investigation, Search Warrants, and Early Court Proceedings (2017)
II. Foreclosure and Sheriff's Sale (2017)
III. Law Enforcement Action and Information Asymmetry (2017)
IV. Prosecutorial Determination (2018)
V. Property Disposition (2018)
VI. Maria Petrou's Subsequent Sworn Affidavit (2021)
VII. “Nick Bee” — AAPD Investigative, FOIA, and Cross-Institutional Records (2017–2020)
VIII. Bank of Ann Arbor — Former Attorneys and Unresolved Sheriff's-Sale Accounting (2017–2026)
IX. Request for Independent Investigation (2026)
A criminal allegation is made in the record by a Greek mother concerning her only daughter, including references to financial account activity.
The allegation is later withdrawn.
No probable cause file is reflected in the available record.
A second source appears raising new allegations.
The source is not identified in the contemporaneous materials.
The Greek mother later denies the allegation.
Subsequent record entries reflect the eviction of the daughter and her family.
Ann Arbor Police Department Report (2018): Cat Ownership Dispute — Complaint and Disposition (CR-18-0000999)
A complaint was filed concerning two orange cats.
The matter was investigated.
No charges were filed.
Ann Arbor Police Department Investigation (2020): “Harassing Communications” Classification (Piano Retrieval at 1745 Brian Court) (Case No. 20-16624)
A piano remained at 1745 Brian Court.
Requests were made to retrieve it.
Those communications were classified as “harassing.”
A seven-month Ann Arbor Police Department investigation ensued.
No charges were filed.
Three Ann Arbor police investigations based on complaints against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, all involving civil matters.
No charges were filed.
Property was lost.
Real-World Impact
The investigations and institutional proceedings documented in the preceding sections did not occur in isolation. While the Ann Arbor Police Department investigation remained active and the family's financial accounts were frozen, Bank of Ann Arbor completed the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale of the family's three Ann Arbor properties. The records below document the resulting financial consequences, including the sheriff's sale and related proceedings, the family's subsequent eviction from 630 Geddes Ridge Avenue, and the professional and personal consequences experienced by Dr. Myria Petrou, Dr. Bradley Foerster, and their children.
Financial records relating to the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale of the Geddes Ridge and Brian Court properties, including Bank of Ann Arbor loan records, sheriff's sale accounting, redemption, RESPA correspondence, and related legal and administrative proceedings.
Timeline: August 2017 sheriff's sale → post-redemption payment (February 2018) → financing and land contract attempts (March–April 2018) → eviction (May 2018) → RESPA requests, loan reconciliation efforts, and subsequent proceedings (2025–2026).
$1.4M Sheriff's Sale Funds – Unreconciled in Record (630 & 620 Geddes Ridge; 1745 Brian Court)
Financial records and official responses concerning $1.4 million from a Bank of Ann Arbor sheriff's sale, including law enforcement findings, oversight review, and related legal filings.
Construction Loan Ledger – Sheriff’s Sale, Post-Redemption Payments, and Charge-Off (2017–2018)
This record presents the Bank of Ann Arbor construction loan ledger associated with the August 3, 2017 sheriff’s sale of three Ann Arbor properties. The ledger documents a $1.4 million credit bid, a subsequent $1.15 million post-redemption principal payment, and a March 2018 charge-off of $294K.
The ledger reflects the financial sequence of the transaction, but does not reconcile the disposition of the $1.4 million credit bid within the recorded accounting.
Bank of Ann Arbor Loan Ledger vs Credit Reporting: $15.29M TransUnion Tradeline (Foerster & Petrou)
This record compares the construction loan ledger with subsequent credit reporting for Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou. The ledger reflects a single construction loan (~$1.48M) and a documented $6,000 payment (March 2, 2017).
Credit reporting (June 27, 2019) reflects the same loan as two tradelines in TransUnion, including a $15.29 million revolving credit limit and a “foreclosure redeemed” notation.
AAPD FOIA Response – Bank Contact Without Obtaining or Reconciling Records ($1.4M Sheriff’s Sale Accounting Discrepancy)
This record presents the official FOIA response from the Ann Arbor Police Department, indicating that while contact with the bank was made, no underlying records were obtained and no reconciliation of the $1.4 million was performed.
Complaint Record – $1.4M Sheriff’s Sale Accounting Discrepancy and Subsequent Agency Responses
This record documents a complaint regarding the adequacy of the Ann Arbor Police Department investigation into the $1.4 million Sheriff’s sale accounting discrepancy. The response of the Ann Arbor Independent Community Police Oversight Committee (ICPOC) reflects that no action was taken due to lack of authority to conduct an independent investigation. The record further reflects that no agency undertook an investigation or provided an accounting of the Sheriff’s sale funds.
Attorney Grievance Commission Declines to Reopen Prior Pamela Ritter Matter Following Submission Concerning Certificate of Redemption
This record documents a March 2026 submission to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission concerning a recorded Certificate of Redemption for 1745 Brian Court, Ann Arbor, Michigan executed in 2023. The instrument identifies payment received "in full for redemption" but does not identify the person or entity that exercised the statutory right of redemption. On May 5, 2026, the Attorney Grievance Commission advised that the information submitted did not warrant reopening a prior Pamela Ritter matter, without addressing the Certificate of Redemption or the issues raised in the March 2026 submission.
American Title – No Source or Authority Identified for 1745 Brian Court Redemption
This record reflects the absence of any identified source of funds or underlying authority supporting the recorded certificate of redemption, based on documentation provided by the title company.
No Reconciliation, No Identified Redeemer – Four Affidavits (Foerster & Petrou)
Sworn affidavits of Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou addressing the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale, subsequent loan accounting, and the recorded Certificate of Redemption for 1745 Brian Court.
No reconciliation is identified. No redeemer is identified. The record remains.
RESPA Request for Information – Bank of Ann Arbor (Loan 500987)
April 19, 2026 – Formal RESPA Request for Information submitted to Bank of Ann Arbor concerning post-foreclosure servicing and accounting of Loan 500987. The request sought reconciliation of the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale, subsequent servicing ledger entries, and related IRS reporting reflected in the Form 1099-C.
This submission: extends the sheriff's sale record set into post-foreclosure servicing and accounting, including Bank of Ann Arbor's reported $1,412,380 sheriff's sale purchase amount, subsequent loan servicing entries, later FDIC correspondence, and the Bank's stated position that it does not maintain a reconciliation worksheet or accounting record performing the requested reconciliation.
This request is grounded in the sheriff's sale proceedings and the events leading up to the sheriff's sale, including a law enforcement investigation that resulted in the freezing of Bank of Ann Arbor accounts, as set out in the following record set.
Bank of Ann Arbor Reported $1,412,380 Sheriff's Sale Purchase; Follow-Up RESPA Request Seeks Reconciliation Record
Following production of March 2025 FDIC correspondence and loan transaction history records, a follow-up RESPA Request for Information sought identification of any accounting record, reconciliation worksheet, general ledger entry, workpaper, or other document showing how Bank of Ann Arbor reconciled its reported $1,412,380 sheriff's sale purchase amount with subsequent principal payment and charge-off entries.
Bank of Ann Arbor States No Reconciliation Worksheet Exists for $1.4M Sheriff's Sale Purchase of 630 Geddes Ridge; New Request Seeks Identification of Transfers
In response to a June 2, 2026 RESPA Request for Information, Bank of Ann Arbor stated that it does not maintain a single document, reconciliation worksheet, or accounting record performing the requested reconciliation. Following receipt of that response, a new Request for Information sought records sufficient to identify any third-party recipients of money or other transfers of value following the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale.
Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou Document More Than Two Years of Unsuccessful Efforts to Trace Bank of Ann Arbor's $1.4 Million Sheriff's Sale Credit Bid
Following more than two years of unsuccessful efforts to trace Bank of Ann Arbor's approximately $1.4 million sheriff's sale credit bid, Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou transmit a documentation package containing the documentation letter, executed affidavits, and supporting exhibits concerning Loan No. 500987 and the August 3, 2017 sheriff's sale. The submission memorializes the Bank's responses to multiple RESPA Requests for Information and preserves the documentary record developed during the accounting inquiry.
From Promissory Notes to Payment in Full – and Unanswered Questions on Sheriff’s Sale Funds
This sequence documents the promissory notes and related financial transactions between Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Aine Kelly, including the execution of the 2017 and 2018 promissory notes, subsequent accounting records, repayment over time, and final satisfaction of all payment obligations. The record also reflects later inquiries regarding whether any additional funds were received by Dr. Cronin or Dr. Kelly from other sources, including funds associated with the August 3, 2017 sheriff’s sale.
2017 Promissory Note – Foerster & Petrou / Cronin & Kelly
April 10, 2018 Promissory Note – Foerster & Petrou / Cronin & Kelly
Cronin Spreadsheet and Disbursements – Accounting of Promissory Note Payments
Promissory Note Repayment and Final Satisfaction – Foerster & Petrou / Cronin & Kelly (2018–2024)
— Paul Cronin and Aine Kelly
“This has nothing to do with the ‘Nick Fiasco’.”
Paid in Full. No Answer. – Requests to Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Aine Kelly Regarding Sheriff’s Sale Funds (2021–2024)
The promissory note was paid in full. No reply when asked about unaccounted sheriff’s sale funds.
Radiologist. Professional record and related documentation, including institutional allegations, OIE/Title IX proceedings, resignation from the University of Michigan, and subsequent clinical and academic work.
Timeline: Academic training and professional appointments → institutional allegations and OIE/Title IX investigation (2017–2018) → resignation (2018) → subsequent clinical and academic work.
University of Michigan Tenure Review: External Letters of Recommendation – Myria Petrou (2018)
External letters of recommendation obtained during Dr. Myria Petrou’s tenure review process, reflecting independent evaluations of her academic, clinical, and research work.
Dr. Myria Petrou Resignation Letter – September 24, 2018
Resignation letter documenting allegations involving sexual assault, harassment, retaliation, and false criminal allegations at the University of Michigan. The letter was acknowledged by Dr. Ella Kazerooni, referred to additional University offices, and later became the subject of a University of Michigan Police Department “Suspicious Circumstances” investigation following referral from the Office of the General Counsel.
Dr. Myria Petrou Again Asks Governor Gretchen Whitmer for Independent Review of University of Michigan Handling of Her Sexual-Assault Report — Recording Was Presented and Discussed During Dr. Bradley Foerster’s 5.09 Proceedings
The documentary record traces Dr. Petrou’s September 2018 sexual-assault report through the University’s subsequent handling of that report and into Dr. Bradley Foerster’s Bylaw 5.09 proceedings. U-M’s Office of General Counsel provided Dr. Petrou’s resignation letter to U-M Police; Dr. Petrou was never interviewed, and the investigation was closed for “lack of information.”
Less than two months later, Dr. Petrou’s recording was presented and discussed during Dr. Foerster’s November 2018 5.09 hearing while University of Michigan Associate General Counsel Gloria Hage was present. Dean Runge’s outside counsel, Mr. Daniel Tukel, returned to the recording during the final hearing session. Dr. Petrou subsequently sought independent review in 2022 and again from Governor Gretchen Whitmer on October 4, 2026.
University of Michigan OIE “Nick Bee” Investigation: 18 Attempts to Obtain Dr. Paul Cronin’s Participation, an Unresolved Identity, and a Later Evidentiary Asymmetry
Dr. Myria Petrou was never provided the completed OIE memorandum arising from her own complaint concerning “Nick Bee.” Dr. Petrou resigned from the University of Michigan Department of Radiology effective September 30, 2018. OIE dated the memorandum October 1, 2018 — the following day. Rather than being provided to Dr. Petrou, the memorandum later surfaced on November 17, 2018, when Medical Dean’s outside counsel, Mr. Daniel Tukel, introduced it during Dr. Bradley Foerster’s Bylaw 5.09 dismissal proceedings.
The memorandum reveals the extent—and limits—of the University’s investigation. It documents Office of General Counsel review of the “Nick Bee” e-mail, recorded calls, possible identities, physician interviews, and voice comparisons, together with 18 attempts by OIE to obtain Dr. Paul Cronin’s participation. “Nick” claimed a connection to Dr. Cronin while making allegations that included alleged criminal conduct involving Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou; those allegations entered the continuing AAPD investigation, related civil litigation, and Dr. Foerster’s 5.09 record. Yet OIE never obtained an interview with Dr. Cronin, and the identity of “Nick Bee” remained unresolved.
Dr. Myria Petrou Letter to Dr. Ella Kazerooni (February 22, 2019)
Letter written following review of University of Michigan FOIA-produced records concerning “Nick B” communications and related Office of General Counsel activity.
“...you told me… that you knew nothing about ‘Nick B’”
No response to this letter is reflected in the record.
Maria Petrou Letter to Dr. Vikas Gulani Regarding Maryland Job Opportunity (2021)
A letter from Myria Petrou's mother to University of Michigan leadership concerning a reported Maryland employment opportunity for Dr. Myria Petrou that was extended and later withdrawn.
“...the offer was retracted after the group said they talked to the University of Michigan...”
Medical Director Statement on Dr. Myria Petrou (2024)
Statement from Medical Director confirming Dr. Petrou’s clinical role, leadership, and professional standing at The Radiology Clinic in Maryland following her departure from the University of Michigan.
Public Interview – Radiology, Cognitive Decline (2025)
A public interview featuring Dr. Petrou discussing advanced neuroimaging approaches to cognitive decline, including clinical and research applications in dementia.
This collection traces Dr. Bradley Foerster’s University of Michigan Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings from the professional record preceding the charges through the initiation of dismissal proceedings, the four grounds asserted for dismissal, the evidentiary hearings, faculty review, presidential determination, and resignation. It then follows the record beyond the proceedings through later review, FOIA disclosures, and subsequent professional records.
Throughout, the University’s allegations and conclusions are placed alongside the underlying records, hearing testimony, contemporaneous responses, and documents produced later through FOIA—allowing the proceeding to be examined against the evidence available at the time and the record that subsequently emerged.
On the first day of tenured University of Michigan faculty member Dr. Bradley Foerster’s return from approved medical leave in September 2018, the University initiated unprecedented Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 proceedings seeking his dismissal. The charges concerned reports of suspected misconduct, disputed electronic communications, and civil litigation. Dr. Foerster challenged the evidentiary basis for dismissal and the fairness of the proceedings. Dr. Foerster represented himself during the 5.09 proceedings, while the University retained outside legal counsel to pursue dismissal. University records subsequently documented $377,818 in outside-counsel charges associated with the proceedings.
During the November 2018 Ad Hoc Committee hearings, Dr. Foerster presented more than 150 defense exhibits and four witnesses who testified under oath concerning his honesty, truthfulness, ethics, and professionalism. Dr. Foerster also presented a recording of his wife, Dr. Myria Petrou, a University of Michigan physician, discussing her reported sexual assault. The recording was presented to the committee for consideration and discussed by committee members. The Ad Hoc Committee voted 5–0 to recommend dismissal before the complete hearing transcript was available.
Dr. Foerster denied under oath sending the disputed mass emails and repeatedly requested the originating IP addresses and access to the emails for independent examination. Neither was provided during the 5.09 proceedings. Nevertheless, the Ad Hoc Committee found “no credible evidence” supporting Dr. Foerster’s claims of hacking or identity theft and rejected his denial of authorship, effectively treating his sworn testimony as untruthful. SACUA subsequently upheld the adverse credibility assessment, which President Schlissel relied upon in recommending dismissal.
During the SACUA review, Dr. Foerster submitted more than 800 pages of additional evidence and challenged the absence of critical witnesses, including Dr. Paul Cronin. Dr. Foerster also raised First Amendment objections to the University's reliance on civil litigation arising from his exercise of the right to petition the courts, and Fourth Amendment objections concerning Ann Arbor Police Department search warrants and the freezing of bank accounts for more than a year, without a corresponding court file for the search warrants. Attorney Cyril Hall testified under oath that the civil litigation would not have occurred but for the frozen bank accounts. On May 24, 2019, SACUA recommended dismissal without specifically citing Dr. Foerster's more than 200 documentary exhibits.
Dr. Foerster subsequently submitted a detailed rebuttal and cited SACUA’s earlier treatment of Dr. Andrei Borisov, whose case involved academic freedom and constitutional protections, to challenge the University’s differing treatment of faculty under Bylaw 5.09. Dean Marschall Runge’s June 10 recommendation reintroduced civil litigation that SACUA had declined to sustain as grounds for dismissal. President Mark Schlissel’s June 17 recommendation relied in part on the civil litigation charge, while emphasizing credibility and procedural fairness. Following the denial of a medically supported request for additional time, Dr. Foerster resigned before the dismissal process concluded.
In October 2026, Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster separately asked Governor Gretchen Whitmer who in Michigan could independently investigate these matters. Dr. Petrou sought review of the University's handling of her reported sexual assault, while Dr. Foerster sought investigation of the AAPD proceedings, the Bank of Ann Arbor foreclosure and eviction of their family, and the University's use of the resulting civil litigation as grounds supporting his dismissal. Both raised concerns about Attorney General Dana Nessel's and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit's institutional ties to the University of Michigan and the absence of independent review. In a second October 12 email, Dr. Foerster also asked whether an agreement unknown to him and Dr. Petrou was being relied upon concerning Bank of Ann Arbor's sheriff's-sale proceeds, restitution referenced in FBI records, or decisions not to investigate, while seeking clarification of possible University salary-accounting adjustments.
The documentary record below presents the underlying charges, hearing testimony, defense exhibits, committee recommendations, presidential decisions, and complete hearing transcripts, together with contemporaneous challenges and records subsequently obtained through FOIA.
Governing Framework
Origins of Regents’ Bylaw 5.09 following the 1950s faculty-dismissal controversy and censure by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP); the relationship between tenure and academic freedom; the heightened threshold for dismissal; the 2020 revision expressly codifying substantive grounds and a clear-and-convincing evidentiary standard; and Chair Karen Staller’s questioning of what conduct could “rise to the level” required to terminate a tenured faculty member.
Documentary Chronology
I. Before Bylaw 5.09 — Career and Institutional Background
II. Initiation of the Bylaw 5.09 Proceeding — August–September 2018
The records below document the transition from Dr. Foerster’s return from approved medical leave to Dean Marschall Runge’s recommendation for dismissal on his first full day back, followed by the formal initiation of the Bylaw 5.09 proceedings and the September 7 Charge Letter.
III. Dean Runge’s Four Grounds for Dismissal — Sections A–D
Dean Runge’s September 7, 2018 Charge Letter organized the case for dismissal into four substantive sections. The records below place each section alongside the underlying documentary record, including contemporaneous records and later-produced evidence relevant to the grounds advanced for dismissal.
IV. November 2018 Ad Hoc Committee Hearings, Evidentiary Record, and Dismissal Recommendation
The November 2018 hearings developed the evidentiary record concerning the grounds advanced for dismissal, including testimony from University officials, outside counsel, law enforcement, information-security personnel, attorneys, and character witnesses. The records below preserve key testimony and documentary evidence presented to the Ad Hoc Committee, culminating in its 5–0 recommendation for dismissal before the complete hearing transcript was available, including Dr. Karin Muraszko’s motion for termination without a terminal year of pay.
Four character witnesses testified under oath concerning Dr. Foerster’s truthfulness, honesty, ethics, professionalism, and accuracy, drawing on relationships spanning approximately four decades. Their testimony became particularly significant later in the 5.09 proceeding when President Mark Schlissel’s dismissal recommendation expressly turned, in part, on Dr. Foerster’s credibility.
The Ad Hoc Committee voted 5–0 to recommend dismissal before the complete hearing transcript was available. The decision record also documents Dr. Karin Muraszko’s motion for termination without a terminal year of pay, establishing the committee's recommendation before the subsequent SACUA review.
Dr. Myria Petrou’s Recording and Sexual-Assault Report in the 5.09 Record
During the November 17, 2018 hearing, Dr. Petrou’s recording was presented to the Ad Hoc Committee “for your consideration,” discussed by committee members while University of Michigan Associate General Counsel Gloria Hage was present, and later returned to by Dean Runge’s outside counsel during the final November 26 hearing session. The later documentary record and Dr. Petrou’s requests for independent review are linked in Section VII below.
V. SACUA Review, Evidentiary Record, and Dismissal Recommendation — 2019
Following the Medical School Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation for dismissal, the record moved to SACUA faculty review. Dr. Foerster challenged the evidentiary basis and conduct of the 5.09 proceedings, including access to witnesses, disputed electronic evidence, standards for dismissal, and the consideration of defense exhibits. The records below document the written challenges, hearing testimony, additional evidence, and SACUA's May 24, 2019 dismissal recommendation.
Dr. Foerster's March 18, 2019 memorandum to the SACUA Review Committee documented the defense and procedural objections presented while the 5.09 proceedings were still underway: 150+ defense exhibits, limited advance access to University exhibits, unavailable witnesses, disputed attribution of mass emails, the AAUP “clear and convincing evidence” standard, academic-freedom protections, University reporting obligations, and First and Fourth Amendment concerns. The memorandum was submitted before the May 1 SACUA review hearing.
The disputed communications were subsequently relied upon in the 5.09 record as SACUA, Dean Marschall Runge, and President Mark Schlissel addressed Dr. Foerster's credibility, making the unresolved question of their electronic attribution directly relevant to the ultimate dismissal record.
On May 24, 2019, the SACUA Review Committee issued its recommendation concerning Dr. Foerster's dismissal. The decision did not specifically cite the more than 200 documentary exhibits submitted in his defense. The recommendation followed Dr. Foerster's written challenges to the Ad Hoc Committee proceedings and the submission of additional evidence for SACUA review.
VI. Presidential Review, Dismissal Recommendation, and Resignation — 2019
Following SACUA's May 24, 2019 recommendation, Dr. Foerster submitted additional written challenges to President Mark Schlissel concerning the evidentiary record, credibility findings, and consistency of the University's application of Bylaw 5.09. Dean Marschall Runge subsequently recommended dismissal, including reliance on civil litigation that SACUA had declined to sustain as a basis for dismissal. The records below document these submissions, President Schlissel's determination, the subsequent request for additional time, and Dr. Foerster's resignation.
President Schlissel’s determination made credibility central to his recommendation for dismissal. The record examined here places that conclusion alongside the hearing testimony—including sworn character testimony concerning Dr. Foerster’s honesty and truthfulness—and the procedural record underlying Schlissel’s conclusion that the proceedings were fair.
The complete transcripts of the three November 2018 Ad Hoc Committee hearings and May 1, 2019 SACUA Review Committee hearing are available together, providing the primary hearing record underlying the dismissal recommendations and subsequent presidential review.
VII. Later Review and Documentary Record
After the 5.09 proceedings ended, later requests for review and subsequently obtained records added to the documentary record. The materials below include renewed requests for independent or faculty review and later evidence that was not available to Dr. Foerster during the original proceedings.
The record documents that U-M received Dr. Petrou’s report and provided it to U-M Police; Dr. Petrou was not interviewed and the investigation was closed for “lack of information”; her recording was nevertheless later presented and discussed during Dr. Foerster’s 5.09 proceeding and returned to by Dean Runge’s outside counsel during the final hearing session. Dr. Petrou subsequently sought independent review in 2022 and again in 2026.
Dr. Foerster's October 12, 2026 correspondence documents AAPD search warrants, bank accounts frozen for more than a year, Bank of Ann Arbor's foreclosure, and the eviction of Dr. Foerster, Dr. Petrou, and their two minor children from their home at 630 Geddes Ridge Avenue. The University subsequently relied on civil litigation arising from these events as grounds supporting Dr. Foerster's dismissal under Regents' Bylaw 5.09. Following repeated requests for investigation to Attorney General Dana Nessel and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, Dr. Foerster asked Governor Whitmer who could independently investigate these interconnected matters, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from their institutional ties to the University.
In a second October 12, 2026 email to Governor Whitmer, Dr. Foerster questioned whether an agreement purportedly made on behalf of him and Dr. Petrou, without their knowledge or authorization, was being relied upon in connection with Bank of Ann Arbor's sheriff's-sale proceeds, restitution referenced in FBI records, or decisions not to investigate. The correspondence also sought clarification of possible University of Michigan salary-accounting adjustments through FOIA Request No. 261635 and documented unanswered questions to attorneys Cyril Hall and Amir Makled, the latter a candidate for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Neither Dr. Foerster nor Dr. Petrou knows of or authorized any such agreement.
VIII. Professional Record After the Bylaw 5.09 Proceedings
The final records trace Dr. Foerster’s subsequent return to clinical practice, advancement to partner and shareholder, and later independent assessment of his clinical work and leadership potential—the professional record that followed the 5.09 proceedings.
Taken together, the documentary record above raises a broader question about the practical protection of academic freedom:
What does meaningful academic freedom require when a tenured faculty member reports concerns in good faith about colleagues or institutional conduct, the University characterizes those concerns as misconduct, and the institution simultaneously controls much of the information, investigative machinery, legal resources, procedural architecture, and timing through which charges arising from those concerns are evaluated?
Those records provide the basis against which that question can be examined.
Property, Financial, and Legal Records
This section documents the legal, financial, and property-related record surrounding the loss of the Foerster–Petrou family's Ann Arbor home, including attorney representation, disputes concerning legal fees and settlements, the 1745 Brian Court redemption transaction, and questions arising from automobile insurance policies issued in Dr. Myria Petrou's name that insured vehicles associated with Tarick Seifeddine, a former tenant who later became the owner of 1745 Brian Court.
Key People
Before the University of Michigan proceedings documented elsewhere in this archive, many of the individuals identified below shared longstanding professional, research, clinical, and personal relationships. The following correspondence illustrates that broader historical context.
Before the University Proceedings: Emails Documenting Dr. Eva Feldman's Support During a Family Crisis
These contemporaneous 2013–2014 emails document Dr. Eva Feldman's support for Drs. Bradley Foerster and Myria Petrou during a family crisis involving Dr. Petrou's parents. The correspondence records Dr. Feldman's offers of practical assistance, guidance, and temporary housing, providing contemporaneous context regarding the close professional relationship that existed before the later University of Michigan proceedings.
Maria Petrou (Dr. Petrou's mother)
Maria Petrou is Dr. Myria Petrou's mother and a retired high school mathematics teacher and principal. In late 2008, Maria Petrou and her husband, Petros Petrou, traveled from Cyprus to the United States so that Maria Petrou could receive medical treatment while Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster were completing their medical training at Johns Hopkins.
Timeline: November 2016 – Maria advises Dr. Petrou to liquidate Maria's Merrill Lynch investment accounts and reimburse Dr. Petrou → December 2016 – Family dispute between Maria and Dr. Petrou concerning Dr. Petrou's third pregnancy → February 2017 – Maria reports Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster to the AAPD for embezzlement → March 2017 – Duaa Altaee records Maria discrediting Maria's earlier AAPD statements → April 2017 – Maria withdraws her AAPD allegations → April 2017 – "Nick" appears, alleging Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster were extorting Dr. Paul Cronin, with the allegations subsequently documented in AAPD search warrants → June 2017 – Dr. Paul Cronin denies knowing an individual named "Nick" and denies extortion during his deposition → July 2017 – Maria reinstates her AAPD complaint → January–February 2018 – Maria reports "Shonda" to the FBI concerning Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster.
Ann Arbor Police Report (January 2017): Larceny Investigation (Case 17-3517)
Following a family dispute, Maria Petrou reported allegations to the Ann Arbor Police Department in January 2017 that Dr. Bradley Foerster and her only child, Dr. Myria Petrou, had committed embezzlement and requested criminal prosecution. The report documents the opening of Case 17-3517, which later became a central component of the documentary record presented throughout this archive. The allegations reported in Case 17-3517 later appeared in related federal, University, and civil proceedings.
Maria Petrou Handwritten Note Attributing FBI, Merrill Lynch, and Police Issues to Duaa Altaee
In a handwritten note sent to Dr. Myria Petrou in fall 2024, Maria Petrou reflected on the events that followed the 2017 Ann Arbor Police Department investigation. The note attributes the involvement of the FBI, Merrill Lynch, and law enforcement to Duaa Altaee. It provides Maria Petrou's own retrospective explanation for how those events unfolded.
Town & Gown: Maria Petrou, Paul Cronin, and the Evolution of the "Nick" Allegations, Foreclosure, and Eviction
This chronology examines Maria Petrou's longstanding relationship with Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, Dr. Paul Cronin, and Dr. Aine Kelly. It traces the evolution of the family dispute, the "Nick" allegations, the Ann Arbor Police Department investigation, foreclosure, eviction, and related institutional proceedings. Together, these events provide the broader historical context for Maria Petrou's role throughout the documentary record.
Dr. Paul Cronin
Dr. Cronin emigrated from Ireland to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic radiology at the University of Michigan, joining Dr. Aine Kelly, who had emigrated from Ireland the previous year. There, they met Drs. Foerster and Petrou, who had begun their radiology residencies, and the four became friends. While Dr. Cronin served on the faculty at UM, Dr. Ella Kazerooni was his direct supervisor.
Timeline: Late Summer 2016 – Dr. Cronin makes statements to Dr. Foerster and Duaa Altaee concerning Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election → Summer 2017 – Dr. Cronin asks Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou to assist him in reporting medical billing concerns regarding UM Radiology to UM OGC, including concerns involving his direct supervisor, Dr. Ella Kazerooni → Summer 2017 – Dr. Cronin informs UM that Dr. Foerster was the source of the medical billing complaints while telling Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou that he feared Dr. Ella Kazerooni → March 2018 – The FBI and HHS-OIG interview Dr. Cronin at UM, where Dr. Kazerooni escorts him to the Chair's conference room → April 2018 – Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou ask Dr. Cronin to come forward regarding his reported Russia-Gate-related statements. Dr. Cronin responds, "This will ruin all our lives." → September 2018 – Dr. Foerster files Foerster v. Cronin concerning Dr. Cronin's reported Russia-Gate-related statements → October 2018 – Dr. Foerster voluntarily dismisses Foerster v. Cronin as "An Act of Good Faith and Trust." → October 2018 – Dr. Cronin responds, "I will," when asked to testify honestly and truthfully → August 2019 – Dr. Cronin departs UM for Emory University.
Letters to Special Counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Concerning Alleged Russia-Gate-Related Statements by Dr. Paul Cronin
Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou submitted letters in January and May 2018 describing reported Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin. The correspondence summarizes the reported statements, explains why they were brought to the attention of federal officials, and requests review of the matters described. The May 18, 2018 letter also states that Dr. Cronin reportedly admitted providing false information to federal investigators concerning aspects of the reported information.
Letter to University of Michigan – November 17, 2018
Dr. Bradley Foerster wrote to Executive Vice Dean Dr. Carol Bradford on November 17, 2018 regarding reported Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin. The letter placed those reported statements before University leadership while faculty disciplinary proceedings involving Dr. Foerster were pending and requested that the matters be reviewed in a hearing before a federal judge. The documentary record does not reflect a response, and the University proceeded with the 5.09 proceedings.
Letter to James Comey – January 2, 2021
Dr. Myria Petrou wrote to James Comey on January 2, 2021 regarding reported Russia-Gate-related statements attributed to Dr. Paul Cronin and their reported consequences. The letter described allegations that Dr. Cronin claimed involvement in a scheme to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election, outlined the impact those reported statements had on her family, and requested guidance and protection. The documentary record does not reflect a response.
Audio: Recorded Call Regarding Federal Impersonation – 2017
Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou recorded a telephone conversation with Dr. Paul Cronin after questioning whether he was impersonating a federal officer. The recording captures the exchange after Dr. Cronin was asked directly about the reported use of a federal badge, including his termination of the call without answering the question.
Dr. Aine Kelly
Dr. Aine Kelly emigrated from Ireland to complete a fellowship in radiology at the University of Michigan. The following year, she was joined by Dr. Cronin, who came to UM to complete a fellowship in cardiothoracic radiology. There, they met Drs. Foerster and Petrou, who had begun their radiology residencies, and the four became friends. While Dr. Kelly served on the faculty at UM, Dr. Ella Kazerooni was her direct supervisor.
Timeline: Summer 2016 – Drs. Kelly and Cronin tell Drs. Foerster and Petrou that they were not trained as physicians → Summer 2017 – Dr. Kelly, along with Drs. Cronin, Foerster, and Petrou, submits medical billing concerns regarding UM Radiology to UM OGC → September 2018 – Dr. Kelly testifies in her deposition that the loans and financial assistance to Drs. Foerster and Petrou were known to, approved by, and jointly discussed with Dr. Cronin → August 2019 – Dr. Kelly departs UM for Emory University → March 2024 – Dr. Kelly emails Dr. Petrou regarding the UM Radiology medical billing HHS-OIG complaint, stating that she did not know whether her computer had been hacked.
HHS-OIG Complaint (2017) – Submitted Under Dr. Myria Petrou’s Name and Subsequent Inquiry
After records identified a 2017 HHS-OIG medical billing complaint as having been submitted under Dr. Myria Petrou's name, Dr. Petrou contacted Dr. Aine Kelly regarding who submitted the complaint. The correspondence documents Dr. Myria Petrou's statement that she did not submit the HHS-OIG complaint under her name. Dr. Kelly replied that she did not know whether her computer had been compromised or hacked.
Aine Kelly and Paul Cronin Medical Training Records – Irish Medical Council and University of Michigan FOIA Responses
After Dr. Aine Kelly and Dr. Paul Cronin stated that they had not been trained as physicians in Ireland, Dr. Bradley Foerster submitted FOIA requests to the Irish Medical Council and the University of Michigan regarding their medical training and credentialing records. This post presents the Irish Medical Council's response concerning Dr. Kelly's and Dr. Cronin's medical training records. The documentary record examines those records in the context of the reported statements and their subsequent University appointments.
Dr. Ella Kazerooni
Dr. Ella Kazerooni served as Division Director of Cardiothoracic Radiology and was the direct supervisor of Drs. Cronin and Kelly. She also served as Associate Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Radiology at the University of Michigan. In March 2018, Dr. Kazerooni became Interim Chair of Radiology.
Timeline: 2009 – Dr. Kazerooni recruits Drs. Foerster and Petrou from Johns Hopkins to UM Radiology → Summer 2016 – Dr. Kazerooni is observed parked in front of Maria Petrou's residence while Drs. Foerster and Petrou hosted Dr. Cronin and Paul's sister, Alison → Summer 2017 – Drs. Cronin, Kelly, Foerster, and Petrou submit medical billing concerns regarding UM Radiology to UM OGC, including concerns involving Dr. Kazerooni → March 2018 – Dr. Kazerooni escorts Dr. Cronin to the Chair's conference room to be interviewed by FBI Special Agent Sue Lucas and HHS-OIG Special Agent Tyson Howard → Summer 2018 – Dr. Kazerooni initiates UM peer review proceedings against Dr. Foerster while he is on medical leave → August 2018 – On Dr. Foerster's first day back from medical leave, Dr. Kazerooni delivers the Bylaw 5.09 charge letter to Dr. Foerster → September 2018 – Dr. Kazerooni accepts Dr. Petrou's resignation letter and wishes Dr. Petrou well → June 2019 – Dr. Kazerooni accepts Dr. Foerster's resignation letter and places Dr. Foerster on a "Do Not Rehire" list → August 2019 – Drs. Cronin and Kelly depart UM for Emory University.
HHS-OIG FOIA Appeal Document
Dr. Myria Petrou submitted a FOIA request seeking communications between Dr. Ella Kazerooni, who supervised Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Aine Kelly, and HHS-OIG Special Agent Tyson Howard. The University denied the request under Michigan FOIA's frank communication exemption, and Dr. Petrou appealed that determination. The University President's Office denied the appeal, completing the University's administrative review.
Dr. Eva Feldman
Dr. Eva Feldman is an internationally recognized neurologist and served as Director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan. Dr. Feldman also served as a co-investigator on the NIH-funded ALS research grant for which Dr. Foerster served as a co-principal investigator. Dr. Feldman also served as the treating neurologist for Maria Petrou.
Timeline: 1998 – Dr. Feldman becomes Dr. Foerster's mentor during Dr. Foerster's M4 year at UM Medical School → 2009 – Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou name their first child, Maria Eva, after Dr. Feldman → 2009 – Dr. Feldman recruits Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou from Johns Hopkins to UM → April 2015 – Dr. Feldman refers Duaa Altaee to the OIE/Title IX Office → April 2015 – Dr. Feldman terminates Neurology's relationship with co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Welsh, in part because of the sexual harassment case → August 2015 – Dr. Feldman informs Dr. Foerster's Career Mentoring Committee that her ALS clinic refuses to work with co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Welsh → February 2016 – Dr. Feldman recommends Sara Abraham to Dr. Myria Petrou for hire as a research coordinator → August 2016 – Following her termination for cause, Sara Abraham submits complaints against Dr. Myria Petrou, Dr. Bradley Foerster, and Duaa Altaee to the University of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS-OCR) → Late Summer 2016 – Dr. Feldman transfers Duaa Altaee under her supervision → December 2017 – Dr. Feldman terminates Duaa Altaee while she is on medical leave resulting from the sexual harassment case.
"What a Journey": Dr. Eva Feldman's Contemporaneous Emails Documenting the Recruitment and Retention of Duaa Altaee on an NIH-Funded ALS Research Project
The forwarded email thread preserves contemporaneous correspondence spanning August 2014 through August 2016 concerning Duaa Altaee's recruitment and subsequent retention on an NIH-funded ALS research project. The emails document Dr. Eva Feldman's consistent assessment of Duaa Altaee as a highly valued member of the research team, from her recruitment through subsequent efforts to retain her on the project. Together, the correspondence provides a contemporaneous account of Dr. Feldman's role in supporting Duaa Altaee and preserving continuity of the NIH-funded research program.
ALS Clinic Ends NIH-Funded Research Collaboration with Dr. Robert Welsh – 2015 Meeting Transcript
A 2015 meeting transcript documents ALS Clinic leadership under Dr. Eva Feldman ending the Department of Neurology's collaboration with Dr. Robert Welsh on an NIH-funded research project. During the meeting, Dr. Feldman attributed the decision in part to a sexual harassment case and patient safety concerns and referred Duaa Altaee to the University Title IX office. The transcript provides contemporaneous documentation of those administrative decisions and discussions.
University of Michigan FOIA Release Reveals Sara Abraham's Complaints Against Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Myria Petrou, and Duaa Altaee Following Her Termination for Cause
Dr. Eva Feldman recommended Sara Abraham to Dr. Myria Petrou to serve as a research coordinator on an NIH-funded ALS research grant. This FOIA release documents the complaints Abraham later submitted against Dr. Bradley Foerster, Dr. Petrou, and Duaa Altaee following her termination for cause, including a dismissed HIPAA complaint and numerous other allegations. The records also document the University's subsequent Office of General Counsel and Human Resources investigation, which later became the subject of additional FOIA requests after the University reported that it located no responsive records documenting the interviews with Dr. Petrou, Dr. Foerster, or Duaa Altaee.
Dr. Bradley Foerster’s 2019 Letter to Dr. Eva Feldman Addresses “Shonda” — Later Forwarded to AAPD, Related Previously Undisclosed UMPD Report Withheld
Dr. Bradley Foerster sent a May 27, 2019 personal letter to longtime mentor Dr. Eva Feldman concerning the University’s dismissal proceedings, his NIH-funded ALS research, their longstanding relationship, and allegations involving an unidentified individual referred to as “Shonda” or “MS.” Years later, an Ann Arbor Police Department FOIA production returned the letter and records showing that Michigan Medicine Security had forwarded it to AAPD Detective Spickard, revealing related UMPD/DPSS Incident Report #1990302701. Despite multiple earlier FOIA requests for University police records concerning Dr. Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou—and the production of other UMPD records—Incident Report #1990302701 had not been disclosed. After its existence was identified through the AAPD records, the University withheld the report as a law-enforcement investigative record and on privacy grounds; the withholding was subsequently upheld on administrative appeal.Duaa Altaee (Clinical Research Coordinator, UM ALS Program)
Duaa Altaee is a University of Michigan alumna. At the beginning of the documentary record, she was working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and preparing to return to southeast Michigan before her marriage to Tarick Seifeddine, who lived in Dearborn.
Timeline: Summer 2014 – Duaa is hired by Dr. Foerster, Dr. Robert Welsh, and Dr. Eva Feldman to work on an NIH-funded ALS research grant → Fall 2014 – Duaa reports concerns of sexual harassment by Dr. Robert Welsh to Lead Research Coordinator Tami Harper, who refers her to Dr. Isaac Francis and subsequently to Chair Dr. Reed Dunnick → Winter 2015 – UM Human Resources informs Duaa that Dr. Dunnick is not investigating her concerns → Spring 2015 – Dr. Eva Feldman refers Duaa to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)/Title IX → Late Summer 2016 – Dr. Eva Feldman transfers Duaa Altaee under her supervision → Late Summer 2016 – Dr. Cronin makes statements to Dr. Foerster and Duaa Altaee concerning Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election → December 2017 – Dr. Feldman terminates Duaa Altaee while she is on medical leave resulting from the sexual harassment case.
Audio: Duaa Altaee Discusses Sexual Harassment with UM HR
After reporting sexual harassment on an NIH-funded research project, Duaa Altaee spoke with University of Michigan Human Resources regarding her concerns. The recording captures Human Resources' statements that no formal investigation would be conducted after Dr. Isaac Francis referred the matter to Department Chair Dr. Reed Dunnick, who had previously characterized the reported conduct as sexual harassment. The recording provides a contemporaneous account of the University's response to Duaa Altaee's report of sexual harassment.
University of Michigan Correspondence: Sexual Harassment Complaint and Response – Duaa Altaee (2017)
Duaa Altaee submitted correspondence to University of Michigan Lead Counsel Tim Lynch regarding allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. The materials include Duaa Altaee's written complaint and Tim Lynch's response describing the outcome of the Office for Institutional Equity investigation. Together, the correspondence documents both the reported allegations and the University's response.
University of Michigan OIE Report – Duaa Altaee Credibility Findings and “Insufficient Evidence” Conclusion
The University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) investigated Duaa Altaee's allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. The report was not provided to Duaa Altaee following the 2016 investigation and was first produced during Dr. Bradley Foerster's fall 2018 5.09 dismissal proceedings. The report concludes that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate policy violations. It nevertheless includes explicit findings regarding Duaa Altaee's credibility, including the following statements:
“This is a flat out fabrication, and is easily disproved…”
“…Reportee's willingness to mis-represent facts.”
Excerpt from the formal dismissal proceedings against Dr. Bradley Foerster, in which the OIE report was introduced by the Medical School Dean's outside attorney, Dan Tukel, and referenced during the proceedings.
“It can't be said politely… [Altaee] has flat out lied.”
Notices & Official Correspondence
Formal communications provided to state and federal officials regarding Russia-Gate-related records, FOIA litigation, and related institutional proceedings.
- Investigative Context
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Correspondence to Christopher Steele (October 10, 2024)
Communication documenting statements made in 2016 by Dr. Paul Cronin regarding a Russian election interference scheme, including claims predating the Steele Dossier and subsequent reporting to federal authorities.
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Correspondence to Christopher Steele (October 10, 2024)
- Federal Executive
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Correspondence to President Trump (Russia-Gate FOIA Record)
Documented sequence of communications to President Trump, including White House response, FBI referral to field offices, DOJ processing, and subsequent FOIA follow-up. -
Re-Notice to President Trump (March 31, 2026)
Formal re-notice referencing prior communications, DOJ-confirmed FBI file, and ongoing FOIA litigation. -
Correspondence to Vice President Vance (Russia-Gate FOIA Record)
Communication to Vice President Vance regarding a litigated FOIA appeal involving a 500+ page FBI file tied to Russia-Gate, including service of the federal complaint and request for release of the file.
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Correspondence to President Trump (Russia-Gate FOIA Record)
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FOIA Correspondence: Timothy Lynch – Barbara McQuade (University of Michigan / Russia-Gate FBI File)
The University of Michigan confirmed that a responsive communication between University lead counsel Timothy Lynch and former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade exists and was withheld in full under attorney-client privilege. The record also documents prior and later correspondence to McQuade, including follow-up communications from Dr. Bradley Foerster referencing the 500+ page FBI Russia-Gate file and subsequent FOIA disputes regarding role, capacity, and metadata information surrounding the withheld communication. -
Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou Re-Forward 2020 “Cease and Desist Letter” to President Santa Ono Regarding Withheld University Records
Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou re-forwarded a 2020 “3rd Cease and Desist Letter” to University of Michigan President Santa Ono, stating that earlier correspondence concerning withheld University records, FBI-related materials, FOIA disputes, and alleged “criminal investigations for fraud” had been “dismissed and ignored.” The earlier correspondence copied University Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Lynch and is presented alongside later FOIA developments involving withheld federal- and University-related records. - Federal Legislative
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Notice to Representative Jamie Raskin
Notice regarding FOIA request for University of Michigan Office of the General Counsel (OGC) records concerning allegations of espionage against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, and withheld Russia-Gate memoranda. -
Notice to Senator Chris Van Hollen
Notice regarding FOIA request for University of Michigan Office of the General Counsel (OGC) records concerning allegations of espionage against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, and withheld Russia-Gate memoranda. -
Follow-Up to Congressman Jamie Raskin’s Office: Jurisdictional Routing of DOJ/FBI FOIA Matter
Constituent follow-up to the office of Congressman Jamie Raskin seeking identification of the appropriate congressional oversight channel following prior jurisdictional deferral and confirmation of a DOJ/FBI record regarding Russia-Gate in federal FOIA litigation.
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Notice to Representative Jamie Raskin
- Media & Editorial Notice
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Notice to Editor-in-Chief Brooke Black – Ann Arbor Observer (April 6, 2026)
Formal notice provided to Ann Arbor Observer editorial leadership regarding prior coverage and the underlying documentary record, including federal proceedings and related materials.
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Notice to Editor-in-Chief Brooke Black – Ann Arbor Observer (April 6, 2026)
- State Government
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Notice to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
Notice regarding FOIA request for University of Michigan Office of the General Counsel (OGC) records concerning allegations of espionage against Dr. Bradley Foerster and Dr. Myria Petrou, and withheld Russia-Gate memoranda. -
Notice to the Office of the Governor of Maryland
Notice to the Maryland Governor’s Office regarding the public record archive, related FOIA materials, and the pending federal case Foerster v. U.S. Department of Justice, in which the FBI identified approximately 522 pages of potentially responsive records and additional audio materials.
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Notice to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
Core Archive Documents
Case ModelFederal Record Summary
Town & Gown: A Chronology (2014–2026)
From "This Will Ruin All Our Lives" to "I Will"