“It is time for a change in the ‘culture’ of our board of regents,” Stewart wrote in bold, capitalized letters to another regent in the summer of 2016.

“I … have said many times myself that the entity that SHOULD be investigated is our BOARD OF REGENTS!” he wrote. “We, as a board, are quick to investigate others, pontificate their shortcomings, express shock and horror … but fail to address where the real problem lies.”

Jerry Clements, a vice chairwoman on the board, told the Tribune-Herald last month the internal complaints that caused that probe included characterizations of the Pepper Hamilton attorneys as “women lawyers from back east (who) had an ax to grind.” She called those characterizations “extremely unfair.”

“If they had new information, we begged them for it, and they never gave it to us,” Clements said. “I don’t know what they were basing this on.”

In a statement to the Tribune-Herald on Wednesday, board Chairman Joel Allison said regents are encouraged to share their thoughts, which are central to strategic oversight, fiduciary responsibility and good governance.