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Report: Penn State officials covered up child sex abuse

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    8-month investigation produced disturbing report

  • Duration 6:36
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They were more worried about the reputation of their storied school.

-- the countless lives destroyed by a child predator.

A scathing new report finds Penn State officials and the late iconic football coach I'm Joseph Paterno.

New for more than a decade.

As far back as 1998.

The unspeakable things Jerry sandusky was doing to young defenseless boys or at least had good reason to now.

But chose not to intervene less the school be subjected to bad publicity.

David B Miller live from our newsroom with details on this report that was just released today David -- -- to 276.

Page report -- school officials including former coach Joseph Paterno.

For concealing what it describes as quote critical facts about Jerry send -- -- child abuse.

The investigation led by former FBI chief Louie freeh says Penn State officials covered up the scandal because as you mention it feared bad publicity.

Investigators portable more than three million documents and if -- more than 400 people the closest thing to a smoking gun has been about -- exhibit two.

Portions of handwritten notes kept by Gary -- fills the school's former senior vice president for business and finance.

When sandusky was investigated for child abuse in 1998.

Schultz wrote and I quote.

Is this opening a pandora's box other children question mark.

According to the report Joseph Paterno knew about that incident but did nothing.

The evidence shows that mr.

Paterno was made aware of the 1998 investigation in -- -- he followed it closely.

But failed to take any action even those -- -- had been a key member of his coaching staff for about thirty years.

And had an office just steps away from mr.

Paterno.

Later in 2001 after Paterno was told that sandusky was spotted in the Penn State showers sexually abusing a young boy.

The report reveals that the school's athletic director was planning on reporting that incident to authorities but he changed his mind why.

Apparently spoke -- Joseph Paterno.

In an email the athletic director at the time Tim Curley wrote to administrators and I quote.

After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joseph yesterday I am uncomfortable with what we agreed -- the next steps.

The Paterno -- in response to this report issued a statement -- short time ago it's that in part.

The idea that any sane responsible adult would knowingly cover up for a child predator is impossible to accept.

The far more realistic conclusion is that many people didn't fully understand what was happening and under estimated or -- interpreted events.

And on a positive note the man in charge of the investigation says he believes the changes at Penn State in the wake of the scandal.

Should make parents comfortable sending their children to the school but he also said everyone has a responsibility to blow the whistle.

When they see wrong -- -- David Lee Miller thank you.

For more now on a fallout from this scathing report we're joined by Tom -- the attorney for one of Jerry's send us these victims.

And -- and you know a former Pennsylvania district attorney gentlemen thank you both so much for being here.

I -- you I mean it's just so disturbing when you when you hear Louie freeh who is you know above reproach on this come out and point the finger directly at these Penn State.

University officials and say they did it that they covered it up and they did it.

Because they wanted to -- be humane to send ASCII and B prevent bad publicity for their school Tom.

Your thoughts on where this leaves us now.

I was in the press conference room today I heard mr.

free and his conclusions that the conduct was reckless and callous disregard of the victims.

My young man followed.

The for men who were in charge here currently -- thoughts and -- and Paterno.

By just six months when he was molested and the words that came out of mr.

freeze them out literally were -- To hear this -- -- indictment of what was a colossal and monumental failure.

At Penn State at the highest level.

I mean you've got you've got this you know.

Senior coaching staff senior senior I mean -- senior part of the school because different -- And -- university president exchanging emails about an an allegation of child rape.

And they have -- here that the university president talking about the downside for the university.

Is that it could become vulnerable for not having reported -- but the humane thing to do.

Is not to bike I mean is this -- -- here like -- face criminal charges.

Well I'm going to criminal that's -- minor -- vernacular and it has night.

Yes go ahead map here yeah eight -- -- said it's certainly a possibility.

You know that that Curley and Schultz are facing.

You know charges in this particular case but this this report is scathing.

That these people the very leadership of the university.

Let stand does he have unfettered access to predators they you know unrestricted unsupervised access to the facilities.

And to the football program knowing.

That he is a predator it's really hard fat.

-- he retired in 1999 with that with the retirement package that included.

Credentials to come back on campus ongoing access to the school.

They knew he was affiliated with the second mild -- charity and they and they knew about.

At least one prior incident with boys and sure enough in 2001 another incident was reported.

How high eight does this go in terms of liability now does Penn State.

Get in trouble civilly or or otherwise because of that the actions of these coaches.

Well the free report is a road map a resource manual and guidebook to not only the civil litigation that is of course going to begin.

Very shortly including.

Got claim that I intend to file on behalf of young man who was the direct victim of this -- misconduct.

But it also was a roadmap to the now future investigations by the Department of Justice by the AG's office the NCAA and the Department of Education Penn State is hardly finished with this the most staggering thing that comes out of today.

Is that in 1998 and again in 2001.

Of these four men.

Mr.

freeh described as running the university.

New and consciously deliberately and collectively made a decision not to report it to authorities.

My word that conduct is indeed as mr.

freeh said beyond the pale.

I want to talk -- -- about the paternal family reactions suggesting that it was just a matter of misunderstanding.

And misinterpreting.

The actions.

This of send dusty has now reported by several people aware we'll get to that in a minute right after this break --

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