UPDATE 1/9/11
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Apology letters were sent to the daughter of state Treasurer John Perdue after a tentative settlement was reached in a privacy lawsuit she had filed.

Emily Perdue received an $81,250 settlement last year over the lawsuit that claimed Marshall University and a professor violated her privacy by leaking information about her grades.

The Associated Press reported Marshall Senior Vice President F. Layton Cottrill Jr. sent Emily Perdue a letter in late October stating Marshall's regret that the situation caused any hardship to her and her family.

Perdue's former professor, Laura Wyant, also wrote a similar letter.

The AP last week obtained copies of the letters that weren't released at the time of the settlement. It says Perdue declined comment on the letters.

Faculty senate said Perdue completed all of her work with no parental influence. They also said there was no improper behavior by her parents.

Faculty senate did admit to a mistake in communication and pointed to the number of independent study hours as a problem.

It was a day of vindication Tuesday for John Perdue. The federal investigation is over, and he has been cleared of any wrongdoing. After all this time of sitting silent, he had a lot to get off his chest.

"Let me say this clearly -- I did nothing wrong except be a dad," Perdue said.

That's how Perdue started his news conference Tuesday morning. His attorney, Ben Bailey, received a letter earlier last week from the U.S. Attorney's Office saying the investigation regarding the grade change controversy has been concluded and no further action will be taken.

"There was a lot of publicity that was unfair and many jumped to conclusions and were wrong," Bailey said.

The controversy started last spring when Perdue's daughter, Emily, received incompletes for two courses at Marshall University. Her professor, Dr. Laura Wyant, said Emily did not attend class meetings or complete any of the work during the semester.

Then, Perdue and his wife met with the dean on separate occasions. That's when the dean decided to take over supervision of Emily's coursework. Several months later, after Emily turned in the completed work, the dean awarded her A's. A federal investigation was launched, looking into whether Perdue abused his power as an elected official to get his daughter special treatment.

Perdue says during the investigation, his attorney advised him not to speak on the matter. Now that that investigation is over, he had plenty to say.

"No one can understand the stress when a federal prosecutor is looking at you," Perdue said. “I want to know why my daughter’s privacy was violated, for what and by whom."

Those are the questions Perdue wants answered. He says Marshall University is looking into the matter.

Marshall University officials tell us any matter involving personnel is private, and they have no comment about any further investigation.
Perdue said he has not ruled out a run for governor and is highly suspicious this attack was politically motivated.

The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia has informed John Perdue the investigation into the grade change scandal has been concluded and no further action is being taken against him.

"I have been practicing law for 30 years, and this is the first time that I can recall that the U.S. Attorney's Office has issued a letter like this, said Perdue's Attorney Benjamin Bailey. "I want to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for realizing that the accusations against Treasurer Perdue and his family were unjustified and false."

Dr. Laura Wyant, Emily Perdue's professor at Marshall, testified last year she gave Emily incompletes in two courses because she failed to do the required work. However, she claims those grades were changed to A's after the dean met with her parents.

A federal grand jury heard the case last year.

Treasurer Perdue said he was pleased to hear the investigation was over.

"No one can really understand, without going through it, the stress an investigation like this puts on a family," Perdue sad. "My family and I would like to thank our family and friends who called to express their support during the last few months."

According to a news release, Perdue said he had no doubt that when all of the evidence was reviewed; he and his family would be cleared of all accusations.

"I am a public official and proud of my record as State Treasurer, and I understand that I am open to criticism," Perdue. "However, my daughter is not a public official and did not deserve the treatment she received from just about everyone involved in this."

Perdue tells WSAZ.com he was concerned that his daughter's privacy rights were violated when her name was released to the public.

According to a spokesperson, John Perdue plans to discuss the situation during a news conference at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Governor's Press Conference Room at the West Virginia State Capitol.

Dr. Laura Wyant, Emily Perdue's professor at Marshall, testified last year she gave Emily incompletes in two courses because she failed to do the required work. However, she claims those grades were changed to A's after the dean met with her parents.

A federal grand jury heard the case and as far as we know, nothing has come out of that. We also haven't heard if the investigation is closed.

WSAZ will have a crew at the news conference. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.