New emails between three-high ranking Penn State officials uncovered what they might have known during the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. The emails were obtained by CNN show some signs of a cover-up after the 2001 shower incident involving Sandusky and a young boy. These emails involve some of the highest r anking officials at Penn State including former President Graham Spanier. The emails also mention Joe Paterno. The three days of correspondence tried to figure out how to deal with the 2001 shower incident reported by Mike McQueary. After some back and forth, the three decided to handle the situation internally. It's a decision that could be very damaging to these three men and Penn State University.
Jerry Sandusky being lead away in handcuffs after his conviction on 45 counts of child sex charges, appears to not be the end of the Penn State scandal. New emails have surfaced that place three former high-ranking Penn State officials and their response to the 2001 Mike McQueary shower incident in question.
The emails were obtained by CNN and exchanged between former President Graham Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley and then Vice-President Gary Schultz. The emails began 16 days after Mike McQueary testified he told former coach Joe Paterno about witnessing Sandusky raping a boy in a Penn State lockerroom shower.
None of the emails mention Sandusky by name, rather calling him the subject. In the first reported exchange, Schultz messaged Curley about a three-part plan to quote, "talk with the subject ... Contact the... Charitable organization (second mile) and contacting the Department of Welfare."
Curley answered that he was uncomfortable with not talking to Sandusky first, saying if Sandusky was "cooperative . . . We would work with him," said Tim Curley in an email. "If not, we do not have a choice and will inform the two groups." Just a couple of hours later, Spanier wrote he believed this is the "humane" approach but worried about the implications for the university.
"The only downside for us is if the message isn't "heard" and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it. But that can be assessed down the road," Spanier wrote. Some attorneys for the victims saying this is proof the university could be held responsible.
"Penn State is responsible for their conduct. We are assessing their conduct. I have said that while Penn State has reached out to me and to other victims and their attorneys, the fact of the matter is that we can't begin to talk to Penn State until we have full and complete disclosure. And this, I would believe, is the tip of the iceberg," said Tom Kline, attorney for Victim #5.
Even former coach Joe Paterno was implicated in one of the emails. Allegedly, Tim Curley said he had a conversation with Paterno and after that conversation, decided he would rather talk to Sandusky before alerting the Department of Welfare. Curley went on to say that if Sandusky is "cooperative," they would try to get him some help and not inform the Second Mile or the Department of Welfare.
These emails are a part of the ongoing investigation by Louis Freeh, the investigator hired by Penn State University to get to the bottom of how this all unfolded. The report is expected by the end of the summer.
The Paterno family released a statement saying Paterno did the proper thing and reported the incident to his superior.
Both Curley and Schultz have proclaimed their innocence and face charges of Perjury and failure to report. They next have a court appearance on July 11.
Jerry Sandusky being lead away in handcuffs after his conviction on 45 counts of child sex charges, appears to not be the end of the Penn State scandal. New emails have surfaced that place three former high-ranking Penn State officials and their response to the 2001 Mike McQueary shower incident in question.
The emails were obtained by CNN and exchanged between former President Graham Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley and then Vice-President Gary Schultz. The emails began 16 days after Mike McQueary testified he told former coach Joe Paterno about witnessing Sandusky raping a boy in a Penn State lockerroom shower.
None of the emails mention Sandusky by name, rather calling him the subject. In the first reported exchange, Schultz messaged Curley about a three-part plan to quote, "talk with the subject ... Contact the... Charitable organization (second mile) and contacting the Department of Welfare."
Curley answered that he was uncomfortable with not talking to Sandusky first, saying if Sandusky was "cooperative . . . We would work with him," said Tim Curley in an email. "If not, we do not have a choice and will inform the two groups." Just a couple of hours later, Spanier wrote he believed this is the "humane" approach but worried about the implications for the university.
"The only downside for us is if the message isn't "heard" and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it. But that can be assessed down the road," Spanier wrote. Some attorneys for the victims saying this is proof the university could be held responsible.
"Penn State is responsible for their conduct. We are assessing their conduct. I have said that while Penn State has reached out to me and to other victims and their attorneys, the fact of the matter is that we can't begin to talk to Penn State until we have full and complete disclosure. And this, I would believe, is the tip of the iceberg," said Tom Kline, attorney for Victim #5.
Even former coach Joe Paterno was implicated in one of the emails. Allegedly, Tim Curley said he had a conversation with Paterno and after that conversation, decided he would rather talk to Sandusky before alerting the Department of Welfare. Curley went on to say that if Sandusky is "cooperative," they would try to get him some help and not inform the Second Mile or the Department of Welfare.
These emails are a part of the ongoing investigation by Louis Freeh, the investigator hired by Penn State University to get to the bottom of how this all unfolded. The report is expected by the end of the summer.
The Paterno family released a statement saying Paterno did the proper thing and reported the incident to his superior.
Both Curley and Schultz have proclaimed their innocence and face charges of Perjury and failure to report. They next have a court appearance on July 11.
