In an unusual, strongly worded report, a Travis County grand jury recommended this week that University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall be removed from office.
While the report did not accompany a formal indictment or decision not to bring charges, it criticized Hall's activity on the UT system's oversight board, calling his behavior "unaccountable and abusive."
Hall faced allegations that he broke the law when he shared private student information with his lawyers while he was investigating the University of Texas at Austin's admissions process. The report doesn't say that he committed a crime.
Issuing such a report without an indictment or a decision not to indict is rare. But the Travis County grand jury in this case made a point to say he abused his role as regent.
"Transparency and accountability are key elements in maintaining citizens' trust in their government," the report said. "Regent Hall demonstrated neither accountability nor transparency in his actions."
Hall didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment. He has been accused by lawmakers of being on a "witch hunt" to oust the university's president, Bill Powers. Hall, a UT-Austin graduate, has said he was performing his duty as a regent.
The public integrity unit in the Travis County district attorney's office began investigating Hall in 2014, as a state House panel was also investigating him. The grand jury convened in October. Its term could be extended, as it has been before,
The House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations was examining whether Hall abused his authority as a regent.
The committee, which had the option to recommend that lawmakers impeach Hall, ultimately voted to censure him. The panel did, however, forward its findings to the Public Integrity Unit.
Last month, an external review found that UT-Austin President Bill Powers has helped secure college admittance for some students over the objections of the admissions office.
