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Report: Ohio Attorney General sets budget for Urban Meyer probe

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has reportedly set the financial parameters for Ohio State’s Urban Meyer probe.

According to Jenn Smola of The Columbus Dispatch, DeWine has set that the investigation can cost up to $500,000. She clarified that does not necessarily mean OSU has agreed to pay that sum or will, but special counsels are appointed by the attorney general’s office which sets a budget for all investigations.

Smola reports that investigative work by law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is not to exceed an hourly rate of $1,620.

The investigation was launched to look into how the football program and athletic department handled allegations of domestic violence against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith. At the heart of the matter is an allegation from 2015, uncovered by reporter Brett McMurphy when Smith made the news in July for coming on ex-wife’s Courtney Smith property (dropping off their kids at her home) in May and being cited for trespassing.

Ohio State fired Zach Smith prior to Big Ten Media Days. When asked about 2015, Meyer said nothing had happened and the report had been “created.” After being placed on administrative leave, Meyer revealed, in a statement, that he had followed protocol in reporting the 2015 incident to his superiors. He claimed to deny the incident at Big Ten Media Days because he was not prepared to talk about it at that time.

Smith was in the headlines again Monday when the The Toledo Blade found records of a previously unreported arrest for drunken driving in 2013.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.