Jerry Sandusky (AP Photo)
Penn State Administrators Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley concealed facts and exposed children to harm for years.
A recent 267-page internal probe by former FBI Director Louis Freeh released today condemned Penn State administrators for a “total disregard for the safety and welfare” of the children sexually abused at the hands of Jerry Sandusky. No kidding.
Some of the key findings, from CNN:
• Before May 1998, several staff members and football coaches regularly observed Sandusky showering with young boys in the Lasch Building (now the East Area Locker Building or “Old Lasch”). None of the individuals interviewed notified their superiors of this behavior.
• University Police and the Department of Public Welfare responded promptly to the report by a young boy’s mother of a possible sexual assault by Sandusky in the Lasch Building on May 3, 1998.
• Despite their knowledge of the criminal investigation of Sandusky, Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley took no action to limit Sandusky’s access to Penn State facilities or took any measures to protect children on their campuses.
• Sandusky was convicted of several assaults that occurred after the 1998 incident. Some of these sexual assaults against young boys might have been prevented had Sandusky been prohibited from bringing minors to University facilities and University football bowl
games.
I think we all knew they were guilty as hell once this interview came out. Now we just have to hear the grisly details.
About Josh Bowman
It’s beyond official! I am shocked and actually can’t believe what I have been reading over the last 3 hours or so!
One phrase jumps out of the Freeh report Time and Time again. “The Special Investigative Counsel did not find any evidence of …” – and it does not read as a denial, but a clear hint to others as to what still needs to be uncovered and where focus should be. It keeps on coming up time and time again … and all traced back to 1998 and the oddities that kept on coming out of PSU towards Sandusky.
I found page 69 of the Freeh report most illuminating (Eye Popping) – how certain papers and files were removed from certain people’s offices in November 2011 – After Grand Jury indictments were handed down – files and papers that I understand would have been caught under a Grand Jury Investigation and should have been handed over some time in 2010 (subpoenas issued 07 January 2010 – see page 25 Freeh report) – and the existence of those files was only uncovered, by accident, due to an interview in May 2012 …. when the contents had to be handed over to all of the Other Investigative Authorities – the Pennsylvania
Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, United States Attorney, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and U.S. Department of Education. Nothing remotely significant or note worthy in that lot all needing to be advised of significant files and evidence – er – uhm – being misfiled in someone’s home so long after they were caught by Grand Jury Subpoena.
What makes it worse – it does get worse – is that the person holding the files could not go and get the files themselves, they were not allowed on campus. So someone else did it for them, took the files to them and handed them over – and that goes into the realms of conspiracy to commit. … at which point does rotten to the very core apply – systemic rot – endemic abuse of process – what is a suitable term to use?
Funny how some forget the files and then remembered them but just had them removed – by a third party – and not disclosed – in a hurry when it became known that first there were indictments out for the people holding those files – and second there was going to be a very in depth and independent investigation by some chap who had quite a history of sniffing out facts – from time spent in law enforcement (FBI) and as a Federal Judge – with carte blanch to rifle everyone’s filing cabinets?
Funny too – the content of those files litters literally every page of the Freeh report. Me thinks that some people have a great deal of explaining to do in front of a Judge and a Jury – Grand or otherwise.
The only good thing I can say about the report is that it showed that the new Trustees of PSU have balls – they did not even know of the reports findings before the rest of the public. That display of balls is to be admired and contrasts massively with the total lack of balls that had been displayed for so long by President Graham B. Spanier, Senior Vice President-Finance and Business Gary C. Schultz, Athletic Director Timothy M. Curley and Head Football Coach Joseph V. Paterno.
I also noted just who refused to co-operate with the Freeh investigation – citing legal advice. Well, that advice may not be of value when it comes to the court dates. Just what is the obligation of a Legal Counsel to report known child abuse when supposedly operating under attorney client privilege? I know in the UK that if you are legal Counsel and become aware of the commissioning of a crime by your client, you have to report. What is the situation under Federal and Penn State law?
And most shocking of all … is that possible???? – Second Mile did know – were told – failed to act and even follow their own procedures – Second Mile were obliged to call in The Department Of Public Welfare when they even sniffed an issue and they did nothing. That is March 19 2001 ( see Freeh page 24 – and then look at the list of victims that come after in the time line) – they knew, they enabled they turned a blind eye – they had the opportunity to identify and support the child seen in the shower (Victim 2) and prevent others being victimised ….. and they did nothing! I’m wondering if there is any defence possible?
The report also makes clear the odd ways in which Sandusky was treated post 1998 – the emeritus status he was given – his pension – his access to PSU and the venues he used for abuse – he was even allowed to buy services from PSU. Of course, Judge Freeh has made clear that his investigation has uncovered no links between these oddities and what people at PSU knew or how Sandusky was treated. It’s odd how many questioned the oddities at the time, but were given odd answers and the purview of President Graham B. Spanier allowed so much to be kept hidden and facilitated.
Even the land sales to Second Mile by PSU are beyond odd!
One thing is clear from the Freeh report – if those Subpoenas of 07 January 2010 had been complied with fully, there would have been a lot more charges and indictments handed down a lot faster – and Joe Pa would have been listed along with the rest! Joe Pa – then one that got away.
If someone does not remove the Bronze Gargoyle from the front Of Beaver stadium and melt it down, I may just have to but a plane ticket. Anyone know of a good hardware store in Happy Valley where I can buy a Powered Hacksaw?
The Grand Jury is still sitting, isn’t it? I still can’t believe what I have been reading!
All I can say is that I hope to GOD someone makes this University and those individuals pay until it hurts them and decreases their quality of living, etc. Not that I want them to feel the pain or anything like that. But because we need to make it VERY clear that children’s lives and futures are more important than *anything else* including money or winning or reputation.
What happens now, and going forward, in regards to sentencing Sandusky and also the punitive aspect of these particular findings, will send a message to survivors that they matter and that we are going to change as a society to keep it from happening again. And a message needs to be sent that if you don’t prioritize children, you will suffer.
Joanna – I read your comment and thought “That’s the Joanna we all know so well – the Lioness, claws ready to protect her cubs – against all comers.” I’d hate to be on your bad side and in reach. P^)
I even thought your response was a bit OTT! Then I saw two things!
1) PSU blanked their own students from watching the Freeh press conference Read It Here … WTF?
2) I watched the live press conference with the PSU trustees responding to the report and being questioned by the press.
Talk about defensive – failing to learn over time – poor responses – what a shower of incompetents !
But for me the biggest sin was denying their own students the chance to hear what the University had invited, paid for ($500,000 per month since November 2011) and agreed to be made public without question or interference. What is the signal that blocking Public Access to the Freeh press conference across the University sends to all those none Jock Students who stood there with candles – supporting the victims and decrying the excesses of jock reaction to the firing of facilitator Paterno and others?
WE Are? Like hell – you’re just a facilitator of the sports program – a revenue unit! Disgusting treatment that undermines exactly what the Freeh report recommended for the future!
I could not believe my ears as one of the trustees went on about Paterno’s legacy and not being hasty. I kept on having flashbacks to a discussion on Theodore John “Ted” Kaczynski and his mathematical prowess and supposed genius – and how that should be regarded and assessed against his Uni Bomber status! I have to say that the discussion was surreal, but the person was in secure detention and medicated at the time!
You use your claws – I’ll happily screw the lot of them with their pants on – twice! They have still not learned the lessons and that is beyond belief.
I hope the NCAA use the kill switch – that would be a message for many to notice!
Snot OTT IMHO. Being denied rescue as an abused child is brain-scrambling, life-ending horror beyond the “top.”
Having the rapist protected by dozens of adults…That’s OTT!
Lioness claws employed to keep the jungle safe…Never OTT!
Well, I think, they are supposed to be funding many sexual abuse/child abuse centers/organizations in their area, aren’t they?
Less money to idiots at the top of Penn State and more money to organizations like PASSAGES and other noble, but impoverished groups!
I hope more children and students of schools and universities come out and report!