07-12-2012, 10:49 AM
presser this morning
![[Image: 071212_PENNSTATE_20120712_095329.jpg]](http://a57.foxnews.com/www.foxnews.com/images/root_images/0/0/071212_PENNSTATE_20120712_095329.jpg)
Live: Penn State officials concealed Sandusky's activities, probe says
An internal probe into the Penn State child sex abuse scandal found that top university officials, including former president Graham Spanier and then-head football coach Joe Paterno, concealed allegations of abuse by ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky to "avoid the consequences of bad publicity."
Spanier and Paterno, as well as former university vice president Gary Schultz and ex-athletic director Tim Curley, failed to protect victims from Sandusky, the report found. "Some coaches, administrators and football program staff members ignored the red flags of Sandusky's behaviors and no one warned the public about him," the report says.
The probe's leader, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, also said Thursday that Curley consulted with Paterno following sex abuse allegations against Sandusky, and "they changed the plan and decided not to make a report to the authorities."
Penn State leaders showed 'total disregard' for victims, review finds
The 200-page findings of the Penn State-funded internal review were released Thursday morning. CNN is examining the report, and this page will be updated with details. The report focuses on what school officials knew about Sandusky's behavior. The scandal led some people to claim the school put its reputation ahead of protecting potential child victims.
A jury last month convicted Sandusky, 68, the Nittany Lions' former defensive coordinator, on multiple charges of sexually abusing 10 boys over a period of 15 years.
[Updated at 10:44 a.m. ET] The NCAA has reacted to the report, saying Penn State "now needs to respond" to four key questions that will help the NCAA decide whether it needs to take action:
“Like everyone else, we are reviewing the final report for the first time today," NCAA Vice President Bob Williams said. "As (NCAA) President Emmert wrote in his November 17 letter to Penn State President Rodney Erickson and reiterated this week, the university has four key questions, concerning compliance with institutional control and ethics policies, to which it now needs to respond. Penn State’s response to the letter will inform our next steps, including whether or not to take further action. We expect Penn State’s continued cooperation in our examination of these issues.”
[Updated at 10:40 a.m. ET] Freeh tells reporters there was an active agreement among top university officials to conceal sexual abuse by Sandusky.
"There are more red flags here than you can count," Freeh said, adding that the attacks occurred just "steps away" from where Paterno worked in the university's Lasch Building.
Freeh said he's not singling Paterno out. But he said Paterno is one of four Penn State leaders who evidence shows were "an integral part of an active decision to conceal" accusations against Sandusky.
Freeh said he wishes he had an opportunity to speak to Paterno, who died after a cancer battle in January, and show him the evidence, including e-mails and notes from meetings.
[Updated at 10:28 a.m. ET] CNN legal analyst Paul Callan says the report will be "a road map" for civil attorneys suing Penn State.
"Here you have (Penn State's) own investigator saying .. higher-ups aided and abetted" Sandusky, Callan said.
Callan says the report shows that after 1999, when Penn State officials knew of a 1998 investigation of Sandusky, they gave him emeritus status ... and allowed him to go on with his charity for disadvantaged children, Second Mile.
Live: Penn State officials concealed Sandusky's activities, probe says
An internal probe into the Penn State child sex abuse scandal found that top university officials, including former president Graham Spanier and then-head football coach Joe Paterno, concealed allegations of abuse by ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky to "avoid the consequences of bad publicity."
Spanier and Paterno, as well as former university vice president Gary Schultz and ex-athletic director Tim Curley, failed to protect victims from Sandusky, the report found. "Some coaches, administrators and football program staff members ignored the red flags of Sandusky's behaviors and no one warned the public about him," the report says.
The probe's leader, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, also said Thursday that Curley consulted with Paterno following sex abuse allegations against Sandusky, and "they changed the plan and decided not to make a report to the authorities."
Penn State leaders showed 'total disregard' for victims, review finds
The 200-page findings of the Penn State-funded internal review were released Thursday morning. CNN is examining the report, and this page will be updated with details. The report focuses on what school officials knew about Sandusky's behavior. The scandal led some people to claim the school put its reputation ahead of protecting potential child victims.
A jury last month convicted Sandusky, 68, the Nittany Lions' former defensive coordinator, on multiple charges of sexually abusing 10 boys over a period of 15 years.
[Updated at 10:44 a.m. ET] The NCAA has reacted to the report, saying Penn State "now needs to respond" to four key questions that will help the NCAA decide whether it needs to take action:
“Like everyone else, we are reviewing the final report for the first time today," NCAA Vice President Bob Williams said. "As (NCAA) President Emmert wrote in his November 17 letter to Penn State President Rodney Erickson and reiterated this week, the university has four key questions, concerning compliance with institutional control and ethics policies, to which it now needs to respond. Penn State’s response to the letter will inform our next steps, including whether or not to take further action. We expect Penn State’s continued cooperation in our examination of these issues.”
[Updated at 10:40 a.m. ET] Freeh tells reporters there was an active agreement among top university officials to conceal sexual abuse by Sandusky.
"There are more red flags here than you can count," Freeh said, adding that the attacks occurred just "steps away" from where Paterno worked in the university's Lasch Building.
Freeh said he's not singling Paterno out. But he said Paterno is one of four Penn State leaders who evidence shows were "an integral part of an active decision to conceal" accusations against Sandusky.
Freeh said he wishes he had an opportunity to speak to Paterno, who died after a cancer battle in January, and show him the evidence, including e-mails and notes from meetings.
[Updated at 10:28 a.m. ET] CNN legal analyst Paul Callan says the report will be "a road map" for civil attorneys suing Penn State.
"Here you have (Penn State's) own investigator saying .. higher-ups aided and abetted" Sandusky, Callan said.
Callan says the report shows that after 1999, when Penn State officials knew of a 1998 investigation of Sandusky, they gave him emeritus status ... and allowed him to go on with his charity for disadvantaged children, Second Mile.