College Football

Author's case over rape records goes to Montana high court

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) Montana's higher education commissioner is asking the Montana Supreme Court to deny ''Into the Wild'' author Jon Krakauer documents that could show whether the commissioner reversed a decision to expel a University of Montana quarterback accused of rape.

The court takes up the case Wednesday in Bozeman, after a Helena judge ruled Krakauer is entitled to the documents under Montana's public-records laws. Krakauer had sought the records for his 2015 book ''Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town.''

Commissioner Clayton Christian is appealing that ruling, saying the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act prohibits his office from releasing confidential criminal justice information.

Christian's attorneys say releasing the documents could jeopardize federal funding and that Krakauer has no rights under Montana's public-records laws because he is a Colorado citizen.

Krakauer told The Associated Press Tuesday that he hopes the outcome of the case will increase transparency on how universities deal with rape.