So, the plot thickens. And, at least as far as the sniff test goes, gets significantly worse.
After taking office in January of this year, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett approved a $3 million grant for The Second Mile, a children’s charity founded by Jerry Sandusky in 1977 and was, based on the grand jury’s presentment, utilized by Sandusky as a recruiting tool for multiple victims.
Corbett was the state’s attorney general when his office began the investigation into allegations that Sandusky had sexually abused young boys, so he was well aware of both Second Mile and Sandusky’s role in that organization. It should be noted that, after becoming aware of the investigation the year it started, Sandusky was barred by the charity from having contact with children and, in 2010, retired from the charity.
Corbett has been highly critical of several individuals involved in the scandal at Penn State, including Mike McQueary, for their handling of the allegations, as well as speaking in general terms that “we must keep in mind that when it comes to the safety of children, there can be no margin of error, no hesitation to act.” However, he has come under increasing scrutiny himself for the pace of his former office’s investigation into Sandusky.
Now, he will likely come under additional scrutiny for the grant, which was originally approved by Corbett’s predecessor but was not completed by the time Ed Rendell left office. Following a review by Corbett’s office, the $3 million grant was approved in July.
No funds have been disbursed to the charity, and the grant is currently on hold, a Corbett spokesperson told the Post-Gazette.