Could Former Penn State Officials Face Criminal Charges After Reportedly Signing Off on Cover Up of Sandusky Scandal?
Emails are raising new questions about the Penn State sex abuse scandal and how several members of the school’s top brass handled at least one accusation against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. CNN reports that in one email from 2001, Penn State’s athletic director suggested that officials work with Sandusky in-house to end the abuse instead of reporting it to state child welfare agencies. He reportedly said that he came to that decision after consulting with the late head football coach Joe Paterno.
A lawyer for Paterno’s family released a statement reading in part that Paterno “believed the matter would be thoroughly and professionally investigated … and he did not interfere with or attempt to compromise any investigation.”
Judge Napolitano gave his perspective on the case, saying that according to the state’s statute, coaches and college administrators weren’t listed as being required to report such allegations to the authorities. “The theory of that law is that if you are responsible for a human being, and you see that human being being harmed, you have the duty to report it,” he said.
Napolitano pointed out that none of the students in this case were Penn State students, so administrators will probably avoid any criminal liability.
