UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein confirmed that the system had hired Orrick in the past, but for a series of bond cases, which she said are unrelated to Katehi’s investigation.
Klein said, however, that Haag never represented Napolitano. She said as Secretary, Napolitano’s name was on a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, and as U.S. Attorney, Haag’s name was associated with that lawsuit as well. But Haag and Napolitano have never directly communicated about legal matters, Klein said.
“Melinda Haag was chosen because she’s a former U.S. Attorney, and she works with other assistant U.S. attorneys at the firm,” Klein said. “They have a lot of white collar experience and they know how to handle an investigation.”
The UC Davis Academic Senate concluded that Haag would conduct the investigation fairly in a 14-1 vote May 19.
The probe will examine whether Katehi has been truthful about her role in the hiring of consultants to improve the school’s online image and evaluate if there were irregularities surrounding the hiring and compensation her close relatives, Napolitano said in a letter to Katehi released by the president’s office following Katehi’s removal.
Guzman said Katehi welcomes an investigation into these allegations, and claimed that an impartial probe would clear her client.
Katehi’s husband is a professor at Davis, and her daughter-in-law works as chief of staff for the vice chancellor for student affairs. Her son is a graduate student in epidemiology.
Napolitano said she is concerned about a raise of over $50,000 and a series of promotions the daughter-in-law received over 2 1/2 years while reporting to an administrator who in turn reported to the chancellor.
Napolitano also expressed concern that the program where Katehi’s son has a paid research position was put under his wife’s supervision and that student fees may have been used inappropriately to finance the move.
Katehi also came under fire when the Sacramento Bee reported in March that she had accepted a seat on the board of a for-profit college company the federal government is suing and previously earned hundreds of thousands of dollars as a director for a textbook publisher. Students protested outside Katehi’s office and state lawmakers called for her resignation.
Demands for Katehi’s removal continued in April as the Sacramento Bee reported that UC Davis spent over $175,000 to scrub the internet of negative posts about the November 2011 pepper-spraying of students.
Katehi’s leave will end when the investigation concludes. Klein said the university will then use the information from the probe to determine its next course of action.
