Embattled Texas Southern University President Priscilla Slade has apparently decided to take a page from the playbook of Steve Spurrier — that is, an aggressive offense is the best defense.
According to this Matthew Tresaugue/Chronicle article, President Slade — who is on paid leave pending the outcome of the TSU board’s ongoing investigation into allegations that she has embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school through reimbursement of unauthorized expenses — has recently gone on a public relations offensive:
This week, Slade started talking in public about the case, meeting Sunday with some of Houston’s most prominent black leaders at the Rev. Bill Lawson’s house.
She later granted her first interview since the inquiry began to Lawson’s daughter, Melanie, at KTRK (Channel 13). Slade also sent a letter explaining the expenses to the Houston Chronicle, instead of giving an interview.
On Wednesday, Slade defended her spending and highlighted the achievements of her seven-year presidency for an hour without commercial interruption on KCOH-AM (1430), the city’s oldest black radio station. Mike Petrizzo, the station’s general manager, said he provided the airtime at the request of U.S. Rep. Al Green.
However, Slade is not apparently not ready to answer questions from all comers at this point:
Green and state Rep. Sylvester Turner interviewed Slade in the studio. She also answered questions from callers, who included former TSU regent Willard Jackson, the Rev. Manson Johnson and the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church.
Slade is a member of Caldwell’s church, and TSU’s auditor has raised questions about $6,500 of university money she spent with the church. [. . .]
The guest hosts did not provide the call-in number for listeners.
Michael Harris, host of the station’s morning show for 24 years, said he was told not to ask questions and only one caller was among his regulars. When asked after the program if Slade’s explanations resonated with listeners, Harris expressed doubt.
“I don’t think anyone who is a regular listener of the program will be persuaded because I wasn’t allowed to talk and the people who usually call didn’t talk,” he said. “It was a show, but not a talk show. There was no dissenting opinion.”
Slade’s strategy is to portray the allegations against her as, at best, a civil matter in an attempt to dissuade the District Attorney’s office from pursuing criminal charges. Although a good offense can be the best defense in certain cases, this particular strategy appears to be the equivalent of a “Hail Mary” pass to me. If Slade does have at least a colorable defense for the reimbursements, then the best way to avoid prosecution is to persuade the TSU board’s law firm of that defense so that the firm reports to the TSU board and the D.A.’s office that recovery of the funds from her in a civil lawsuit is uncertain. In that case, the D.A.’s office might conclude that proving criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt is unlikely and, thus, elect not to pursue criminal charges.
Unfortunately for Slade, Hail Mary passes usually don’t work.
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