Ex-Provost Faked Notes to Obstruct Justice

Matthew Queen, a 46-year-old former professor and interim Provost, has been charged with falsifying records in connection with a federal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.

Queen was arraigned on the Criminal Information before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan earlier today. He faces a charge of obstruction of justice for allegedly creating false notes in an attempt to corroborate his own lies.

“As alleged, Matthew Queen attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation by creating false notes in an attempt to corroborate his own lies,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “The criminal obstruction charge announced today should exemplify the seriousness of attempts by any individual to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith added, “Matthew Queen, an interim Provost, allegedly failed to inform the FBI of a conspiracy to destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation of sexual misconduct and instead produced falsified notes to investigators. Queen’s alleged actions deliberately violated a court order and delayed justice for the sexual abuse victims.”

According to the allegations in the Information filed today in Manhattan federal court, Queen was interviewed by the FBI in May 2023 regarding his involvement in a January 2023 meeting with two Seminary employees. During the interview, Queen falsely stated that he had not heard one of the employees direct the other to destroy a document related to the investigation.

Three days after the interview, Queen produced a notebook containing purportedly contemporaneous notes of the meeting. However, the notes were allegedly falsified to omit the fact that Queen had directed the employee to destroy the document. The investigation is ongoing, with Queen facing charges of obstruction of justice.

The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.