Michigan has now spent more than $12 million on an athletics investigation, and the public is yet to know the findings.

However, the Detroit Free Press obtained two new invoices through a Freedom of Information Act request. They show the university paid Jenner & Block, the Chicago law firm leading the probe, another $197,979 in June 2026.

"Documents related to these attorney-directed investigations are privileged and confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege," university spokesman Paul Corliss said, per the Detroit Free Press.

With a 12.5 percent discount already factored in, that payment landed just under $198,000. When the Free Press asked to see the actual findings, Michigan declined.

"Maintaining the confidentiality of these documents preserves the integrity of the investigative process, protects the privacy of those who participated and helps safeguard those individuals from potential retaliation," spokesman Paul Corliss said, per the July 16 Detroit Free Press report.

That's a real shift from where Michigan stood before. Back in June, the university wouldn't even confirm these documents existed.

Jenner & Block were first hired to investigate the university in late 2025. Moore's firing was part of it, specifically what led to it once his affair with executive assistant Paige Shiver went public.

The firm was also asked to take a harder look at the athletic department's culture as a whole.

Moore eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges and received probation after entering Shiver's home without permission following his firing. Shiver's attorney, Andrew Stroth, summed up the frustration.

"This public university paid Jenner & Block $12 million to investigate the Sherrone Moore scandal and the abuse, Title IX and Title VII violations within the athletic department and Schembechler Hall, yet now refuses to release the investigation's findings," Stroth said.

Shiver's legal team has since filed their own lawsuit against the university, accusing Michigan of hiding investigation findings that the public has a right to see.

Board of Regents meeting made no public announcement on Manuel or the investigation

On Thursday morning, the University of Michigan held the Board of Regents' scheduled meeting, which was livestreamed, in Traverse City. But neither Warde Manuel's future nor the Jenner & Block investigation appeared on the published agenda.

Insiders told the Free Press that regents were briefed on the findings at some point in June. Meanwhile, Manuel is reportedly involved in buyout conversations with the university.

The Athletic also reported that players and staff expressed concerns about the relationship between Moore and Shiver during the 2024 preseason camp.

Following these internal concerns, a formal complaint was filed with human resources regarding the two working out together inside the team facility.

The public university's community is still waiting to find out what the investigation revealed.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit