MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - The cost of investigating whether West
Virginia University gave Heather Bresch, Governor Manchin's daughter, a master's degree she didn't earn is starting to add up.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of
Information Act request show WVU has spent $4,000 so far.
But the bills don't include at least $18,000 in anticipated per diem payments for each of three out-of-state educators serving on an
panel conducting the investigation.
Bills submitted as of April 14th indicate the panel has met at least four times since mid-February.
At the approved per diem rate of $1,500, the outside panel members have likely earned payments of at least $6,000 apiece.
Two WVU professors on the panel don't receive per diem.
Heather Bresch, the subject of the inquiry, says she spoke to the panel April 6th, and no bills for that date are included in the documents.
WVU attorney Shea Browning says it's likely some expenses have
yet to be filed.
All the expenses are being paid by the WVU Foundation, the school's private fund raising organization, so the burden is falling on donors, not taxpayers.