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Inquiry says Joe Paterno and other top officials hid allegations against Jerry Sandusky to dodge bad publicity
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First from fox at 3 o'clock in New York City and absolutely devastating report now concludes.
That members of Penn State university's top brass including the late football coach Joseph Paterno.
New and did nothing.
Deliberately concealed accusations of child sex abuse surrounding the former assistant football coach coach Jerry sandusky.
Primarily to avoid the consequences of bad publicity.
Independent investigators led by a former FBI directors say they found a striking lack of empathy among the school's leadership.
A president who discouraged discussion or dissent.
And of culture of reverence for the football program ingrained at all levels of the campus community.
One that protected a serial pedophile.
And allowed him to lure more victims for years.
The lead investigator called it a terrible tragedy.
Our most saddening and sobering finding.
Is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of -- and -- -- child victims.
By the most senior leaders at -- -- mr.
Spaniard Schultz Paterno and curly.
Never demonstrated.
Directions -- words any concern for the safety and wellbeing of -- does -- victims.
Until after the San does he's arrest.
The report also finds that coach Paterno was aware of a second accusation of child sex abuse.
Back in May of 1998.
When a mother said coach sandusky molested her son in the showers at Penn State.
Coach Paterno reportedly learned about the complaint within the month.
But never alerted police and never alerted child welfare agencies.
And in the next year he apparently suggested -- does he take on a volunteer role at the university -- soaring young people.
Coach Paterno died earlier this year.
Last month a jury convicted coach -- -- -- and 45 counts of abusing young boys and he's due to be said -- within the next few months.
-- Billy Miller's been following this story from the beginning and he's live in our New York City newsroom this afternoon.
David Lee what did these investigators independent investigators.
Offer in the way of proof that all of these people -- did nothing.
-- -- the investigators say they examined more than three million documents among them to -- identified as exhibit.
Two -- and two -- these are hand written notes handwritten notes by the then senior vice president of business and finance at the school Gary Schultz.
These notes written in 1998 after ten dusty was allegedly involved -- -- in an incident of child abuse he wrote quoting the notes critical issue contact with genitals assuming same experience -- the second -- not criminal.
He also wrote.
Is this opening a pandora's box.
Other children question mark and again Shepperd as you mentioned Paterno knew about this incident in 1998.
We heard from -- -- family today.
And they said that -- and dusty was a great deceiver who quote.
Fooled every point -- according to this report David Lee did anybody come forward to alert of this activity.
A number of individuals thought about it but the end of the day they relented you might recall that there was an incident in the year 2000 a -- said.
He witnessed this is revealed a trial a and -- -- -- -- does keep performing oral sex on a boy in a shower that Jenner now has alzheimer's disease and didn't testify at the time though he confided in another janitor.
What he had seen investigators.
With the free report.
Located at generals it has divided trial and they asked him why didn't you come forward at the time to say what your colleague.
Said he sought and the -- said.
Quote reporting that incident would have been like going against the president of the United States in my eyes I know Paterno has so much power.
If he wanted to get rid of someone I would have been -- And he concluded his remarks to be -- -- -- by saying.
Football.
Runs the university the bottom line here.
There was a conspiracy a conspiracy of silence Sheppard David Lee Miller in New York City David Lee thanks let's take this to our legal panel now.
Prosecutor Anna -- make -- is -- and criminal defense attorney.
-- -- and you know it's very clear in this report and a lengthy one comprehensive one -- what 500000 dollars a month to do.
And it concludes.
All of the top administrators about whom all of us have heard news.
Did nothing except cover it up and there report concludes that they covered up.
To protect the university from bad publicity and to protect the football program from losing recruits and losing money.
That's -- -- -- it's sobering to say the -- -- these are all things that we heard and believed as this child went forward but to see it now -- black and -- after such an incredible intensity has to -- you have to wonder.
What does that mean now for Penn State what should happen to Penn State and their football program.
When you know is it because these men and these people.
Condone this behavior -- -- not mean no one is going to say that however why did they do it they did in the name of that game and so that's where I think this is going to go now what it's going to and potentially -- very much fact.
-- You prosecute criminally people who break the law if someone had an obligation.
To report something that they knew.
And didn't do it prosecute them criminally.
If someone lied in the grand jury prosecute them prevalent in all parts under -- now the person who -- racing has already been convicted for the NCAA to step in.
And say we're going to think about imposing the death penalty is overreaching it's insane it's everything and nothing that our system of justice stands for.
They have no business in this mess it's got nothing to do with the integrity of the athletic program as horrible as it is.
Did -- say that zero these are children.
Every time it's been a -- SMU being that they're the biggest example recruiting violations cash -- players the integrity of the game.
The ruling from the NCAA during the S and you investigation.
More than more than four -- five years ago was.
That the administrators and coaches knew of payments to players covered it up.
And allowed it to happen.
For that they got the death penalty the accusation here is.
That administrators head coach is.
-- -- of felonious assault a little boys on the Penn State campus by a one time Penn State high ranking employee and did not.
Mean to flip -- where's your houses has everything to do with the integrity of the game.
Everything I mean they did this in the name of the game to keep their coffers -- to make sure they got the top players in there.
And look at the gravity yes this is different -- SMU because you're talking actual cash.
In -- young -- pockets however we're talking about the abuse of multiple multiple children in the name of trying to stop bad publicity didn't name up trying to make sure they got people there that would help them keep winning so I mean it.
It may not be as institutional as far as everyone involved however it went to the very top levels I think the effect unfortunately was much more harmful here.
The NCAA -- president Rodney -- sent a letter to the university on November the seventeenth of last year explaining that they would wait until the criminal prosecutions -- over -- and then -- A full fledged NCAA investigation and part of what -- it -- discusses in this letter is.
The bylaws.
Ten point one identifies ten types of unethical conduct but specifically makes clear that a list of ten is not limited to.
Those delineated it talks about morals.
And representation for young men and women -- -- within the department it -- a number of questions of Penn State in an NCAA investigation begins.
Randy I I understand your point.
This wasn't about football players this was about administration.
And according to this report at least.
-- culture which not only covered up.
But allowed -- more felonious activity to take place specifically.
The rating of little boys at least ten of them over at least ten years if you don't give the NCAA doesn't give the university the death penalty.
What should the NCAA did.
The NCAA should do nothing you talked about those ten different.
Rules that fall under the morals of the ethics nowhere in those ten.
Is there any mention any -- and the NCAA says exactly that in this letter and when you but it goes on to say that this is about this is bigger than that.
That institutions of higher learning have a responsibility.
To have -- high moral standards that they pass along to.
To their students and set a good example for them and let the Department of Education deal of it.
Not the committee that oversees.
Integrity.
In this sport.
What happened here has nothing to do with the sport when you have cancer you don't kill the body you cut the cancer out.
And you hope that the body continue can continue to function someone much smarter than me said that to me this morning.
When that you prosecute a murder a BI arrest doesn't do that whether or not the person pays the taxes and that came from Sports Illustrated dot com.
The person doling out the punishment should have jurisdiction to deal with the punishment the NCAA has no business.
Being in this and whenever you get into that catch all the including but not limited to you're headed down one dangerous slippery slope let the criminal prosecutors feel that -- the Department of Education -- -- Does being written about this today all over the place with Google search will get it for you I found it interesting one it.
And there're there're there are points -- and good -- I think on both sides want from ten alive which is a -- Penn State live I guess an interest in column there this one though from Jeff Jeff Schultz and that -- Atlanta journal constitution newspaper and available now AJC dot com and -- Just just a section of it.
The problem is concluding that because -- -- -- rep for him for sensible acts did not lead to a competitive advantage the football program shouldn't pay.
But the cover up changes that.
What the powers at Penn State did was beyond anything any athletic program has ever done beyond free clothes are free rent an academic fraud.
He goes on to say to hell with the free Camaro.
We're talking about sweeping allegations of a child sex offender under the rug in order to protect the school's image fundraising and recruiting.
There is no more extreme example of lack of institutional control and with the NCAA.
The important phrase.
Is institutional control and if Penn State goes down it will go down on that phrase the NCAA is investigation is beginning.
We shall see.
Penn state university.
And how we feel now about Joseph Paterno.
I don't feel like it's the chip but we you I don't away from the children and you forget about the -- it's the case.
