Betsy DeVos could face jail time for collecting debt from former students of a bankrupt for-profit college
Posted By Lee DeVito on Tue, Oct 8, 2019 at 3:56 PM
President-elect Donald Trump meets with Betsy DeVos at Trump International in Bedminister, New Jersey, on Nov. 19.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is in hot water after a judge found her department has been collecting debt from former students of a bankrupt, for-profit college — despite a 2018 court ruling ordering the department not to do so.
"At best it is gross negligence, at worst it's an intentional flouting of my order," U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim told lawyers Monday, Bloomberg reports.
The order stems from the case of Corinthian College Inc., once one of the nation's largest for-profit colleges, which filed for bankruptcy in 2015. The federal government ruled that up to 335,000 former students could erase their loan debt by checking a box and signing their names on a form and possibly receive a refund for past payments.
But when lawyers for the education department filed paperwork last month to show compliance with the court order, they revealed the department had continued to collect debt from at least 1,808 students.
Related The miseducation of Betsy DeVos: Don't be fooled — Trump's secretary of education knows exactly what she's doing
The miseducation of Betsy DeVos
Don't be fooled — Trump's secretary of education knows exactly what she's doing
By Jason Linkins and Phil Lewis
Kim is now collecting arguments from lawyers on both sides. It's unclear how much jail time DeVos would face if Kim finds her to be in contempt of the court, but Kim told lawyers on Monday, "it's good to know I have that ability."
Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue newsletter delivered each Wednesday.
Tags: Betsy DeVos, Trump's America, Image
« Michigan transgender woman at heart… | Michigan police chief fired after a… »
More on News Hits
WOOD-TV reporter coincidentally gets 'DCK 247' license plate
Gov. Whitmer writes letter to Facebook CEO in response to Metro Times story about violent group
Joe Biden is out of step with most of the country on marijuana
More News Hits »
More by Lee DeVito
Articles of impeachment autographed by Trump in Michigan expected to fetch $50K-$100K at auction
Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott on Asian opponent: 'Don't vote for the ching-chong!'
U.S. Court: Detroit students have no right to access to literacy
Detroit's vacant lot problem
Chicken Shack Read More
Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes Read More
Del Rio Read More