2001 Penn State Emails: Was There a Cover-Up?

President, officials apparently sent emails about the Sandusky shower incident
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 30, 2012 10:57 AM CDT
2001 Penn State Emails: Was There a Cover-Up?
Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse in handcuffs after a jury found him guilty in his sex abuse trial on June 22, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.   (Getty Images)

Jerry Sandusky may be behind bars, but the allegations are still coming—this time, against Penn State. CNN was given access to emails sent in 2001 that raise questions about what former Penn State President Graham Spanier and two former officials (then-VP Gary Schultz and Athletic Director Tim Curley) knew about an incident involving Sandusky and a boy in the shower. CNN reports that the trio exchanged emails between Feb. 26 and 28, 2001, 16 days after Mike McQueary told Joe Paterno what he saw. Key details per CNN:

  • Sandusky is never named in the emails; the words "the subject" and "the person" are used. "Guests" indicates the children Sandusky brought on campus.
  • On Feb. 26, Schultz refers to a three-part plan: "talk with the subject asap regarding the future appropriate use of the University facility," ... "contacting the chair of the charitable organization" [aka Second Mile] and "contacting the Department of Welfare."
  • But on Feb. 27, Curley indicates he wants to hold off on contacting child welfare. He also references a conversation he had with Paterno. He writes: "After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps." He apparently wanted to meet with Sandusky and help him get "professional help."
  • Spanier apparently agreed to the plan, which he called a "humane and a reasonable way to proceed." But noted he that if their "message isn't 'heard,' we then become vulnerable for not having reported it."
Sources tell CNN the three could possibly face charges if the emails do in fact indicate they didn't report the incident to police. Click for more from the emails. (More Graham Spanier stories.)

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