03-20-2025, 09:31 AM
The interesting questions here are: Why did this information leak, why did it leak to who it did, and why now?
1. WHY DID THIS LEAK: The most likely answer based on situations like this in the past is that someone was unhappy with the outcome of these investigations. To leak the reports, obviously you have to have access to them. Who had access? Taylor, Muir, Luck, and various higher-ups in the admin had access but no reason to leak - they had already reckoned with these allegations and came to their conclusion. The outside investigator had access but would never leak - that's a good way to kill your practice. So that leaves the targets of the alleged actions, who have clear motives.
2. WHY DID IT LEAK TO XUAN THAI: This was the most eye-raising thing about the story to me. Typically, big Stanford news gets broken by Pete Thamel - he's the favored reporter of the institutional powers. Thai is an investigative reporter with a law degree who digs into major stories involving lawsuits, conflicts involving government oversight, etc.
3. WHY NOW: My best guess is that someone (or perhaps multiple people) who was party to the investigation and was allegedly harmed by Taylor is readying a lawsuit against Taylor and the university. My bet would be on the compliance officer, who has the best case for demonstrating professional damage. Leaking the investigations sets the table for a second stage of this story when the complaint(s) hits.
1. WHY DID THIS LEAK: The most likely answer based on situations like this in the past is that someone was unhappy with the outcome of these investigations. To leak the reports, obviously you have to have access to them. Who had access? Taylor, Muir, Luck, and various higher-ups in the admin had access but no reason to leak - they had already reckoned with these allegations and came to their conclusion. The outside investigator had access but would never leak - that's a good way to kill your practice. So that leaves the targets of the alleged actions, who have clear motives.
2. WHY DID IT LEAK TO XUAN THAI: This was the most eye-raising thing about the story to me. Typically, big Stanford news gets broken by Pete Thamel - he's the favored reporter of the institutional powers. Thai is an investigative reporter with a law degree who digs into major stories involving lawsuits, conflicts involving government oversight, etc.
3. WHY NOW: My best guess is that someone (or perhaps multiple people) who was party to the investigation and was allegedly harmed by Taylor is readying a lawsuit against Taylor and the university. My bet would be on the compliance officer, who has the best case for demonstrating professional damage. Leaking the investigations sets the table for a second stage of this story when the complaint(s) hits.