APThe child-sex abuse case involving former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky appears to have extended beyond the Pennsylvania state borders to the federal level. And, suffice to say, authorities will be digging through everything that might help in their investigation.
A Penn State spokesperson confirmed to the Harrisburg Patriot-News Thursday that federal authorities signed a subpoena on Feb. 2 requesting information from Penn State board members, as well as former PSU president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and top university official Gary Schultz.
The subpoena, which you can view HERE, looks to assist in investigating what top PSU officials may have known about Sandusky and the allegations against him. Sources told NBC the subpoena asks for a variety of documents, including emails, dating back to 1998.
The NBC report goes on to state “Investigators are also trying to determine if Penn State board members may have made previously undisclosed payments to ‘third parties’ relating to Sandusky.”
Spanier, Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, as well as attorneys for Curley and Schultz could either not be reached for comment, or would not comment when asked by the Patriot-News.
Curley, Schultz and Spanier have testified in the case and the former two are currently facing perjury charges; all three are no longer with Penn State. How top PSU officials, as well as former coach Joe Paterno and assistant coach Mike McQueary, responded to a 2002 incident where McQueary reportedly saw Sandusky and a young boy in a locker room shower remains a point of interest in the scandal.
McQueary testified at the trial for Curley and Schultz; Paterno passed away in January from complications relating to lung cancer. Paterno’s passing isn’t expected to impact the Sandusky case.
But that’s just one area of concern to federal authorities.
A source close to the situation also told the Patriot-News that another request for information, including travel records, was received by the Second Mile from the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A law enforcement official told NBC “federal officials were also trying to determine if Sandusky used computers to communicate with or solicit his alleged victims.”
All information must be handed over by Feb. 29.
David Woodle, CEO of the Second Mile, said he wouldn’t comment on the investigation to the Patriot-News.
When an investigation like Sandusky’s involves alleged crimes in more than one state, federal officials typically get involved. One of the 10 alleged victims of Sandusky claims he was abused by Sandusky during an Alamo Bowl trip in 1999. Identified as “Victim 4″, the boy was also listed as a member of Sandusky’s family for the 1998 Outback Bowl, according to the original grand jury indictment.
Local police have opened investigations in those two cities. That means investigations into the Sandusky allegations are now reportedly being conducted at the institutional (PSU and Second Mile), state and federal levels.
It can’t be emphasized enough how far this scandal branches.
Sandusky is currently awaiting trial, tentatively set for May, after he waived his preliminary hearing. Sandusky, hit with over 50 counts of child-sex abuse, recently had modifications made to his bail restrictions that allows him to see his grandchildren and certain friends.
Good. Hopefully this will eliminate all chances of that creep benefiting from ANY special treatment from the good ole boy network.
Good, maybe the feds will find evidence that Paterno enabled this creep to keep doing whatever he wanted.
While speaking with victims of Sandusky and their attorneys, we strongly encouraged them to ask for federal participation in the investigation ongoing, if the feds would not outright assume control of the investigation at large. Apparently, they are doing the first and considering the second.
Ben, you have stated it well: “It can’t be emphasized enough how far this scandal branches.” All the information we have learned from first hand sources is that it is almost assured that many others will be called forward who have information on the horrid abuse by Sandusky of children and covered it up.
Victims of Sandusky are receiving therapy and counseling and all are experiencing great challenges (depression, anger, distrust, thoughts of suicide, and attempts often made, etc.). Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims as they have been for some time now and will continue. Great efforts are being made to identify all those who knew before and after the horrors brought by Sandusky upon the children. This is a step in the right direction.
Good. Get this matter out of the hands of the agenda-driven, goober Pennsylvania courts and into the hands of the feds. It’s about time. I wish the enabler lived long enough to die in prison, but so be it. Here’s hoping the victims gouge the Paterno family, the Sandusky family, and the “university” for everything they have.
Throw his ass in jail!!!!
@chiadam
Yes, because suing the crap out of anyone and everyone involved will surely fix the problems on display in this case.
The whole concept of suing just reinforces the idea that money makes everything OK. It doesn’t. There has to be a better outcome from this whole mess than financial retributions and jailtime.
And have some respect for the dead, and not just the dead, but for those who came before you and probably did 100 times more for people that I imagine you ever will.
@dhlions
“The whole concept of suing just reinforces the idea that money makes everything OK. It doesn’t.”
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Heck yes it does. Thats how we roll in America buddy. And remember, a lot of these kids come from poor backgrounds.
@dhlions – No, it won’t fix anything. Most of the victims can’t be “fixed” by any means. But it will drop a little pain on some people that surely deserve it. And you do NOT have to respect the dead. Not all of them. Do you respect Jeffrey Dahmer? How about Hitler? Bin Laden? They’re dead, so I guess you do. Good for you. As far as “doing things for people,” I don’t want the kind of services Paterno gave. He covered up for a child rapist. If you’re cool with that, so be it. Anything else?
I know this case upsets a lot of people and for good reason but, it would be nice if everyone would wait until all information was available before we crucify anyone. Yes it looks very bad for Sandusky and if he is guilty then he should fry but, if he’s not look at the rep he will have for the rest of his life. Also I think everyone should leave Paterno alone until we find out if he helped cover anything up. If his only act of so called cover up was going to his superiors and not the police then in my opinion his name should not burden any of the shame. Plus why is Mike McQueary not being bashed more than Paterno? He stated he witnessed the crime and did nothing to stop it nor did he as a witness go forth to the police. Again tho I will wait until all info is available before I pass judgement on anyone and everyone involved.
chiadam – please stop with this coverup business. People that want to cover something up don’t report it to other people. They keep it quiet. Unless the definition of “cover up” has recently changed.
Silence for 13 years IS IN FACT A COVER UP. There are a lot of dead that don’t deserve respect. We know enough to know that a lot of people looked the other way for a long time. Can’t imagine a more selfish act than to know that a child is at risk and “report it to my boss” as your only action.
phillyphever says:
Feb 24, 2012 2:05 PM
Good, maybe the feds will find evidence that Paterno enabled this creep to keep doing whatever he wanted.
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What??
Why would you WANT another human being to have covered up such horrific crimes?
Why would you not prefer that Paterno was just a decent man who couldn’t fathom the crimes that Sandusky was alleged to have committed, who felt that as a 75 year old man he wasn’t equipped to handle such a situation that needed to be taken to authorities, and put his trust into his superiors and the highest ranking officer in the police department to properly handle the situation?
And that perhaps incompetence, negligence, or perhaps monetary motives (men who were highly connected to Sandusky’s Second Mile charity) are at fault?
And that perhaps Joe Paterno was a decent man who tried his best to have a positive impact on Penn State University, and to improve the lives of his players on the field and in the classroom, and who if he had known that men like Gary Schultz would not do their jobs when it came to putting away such a monster, that Paterno would have done something different in this tragedy.
But no! You actually WANT Paterno to be evil! I guess that will allow you to feel good about yourself and pat yourself on the back as you sit behind a computer screen passing judgment on others.
To the writer Kercheval
You have plenty time to write about this crap yet you see no value in reporting the monies the Penn State STUDENTS generated for pediatric cancer recently. They raised over 10.6 million dollars for children’s cancer and donated all the money to Hershey Medical Center. Largest effort in the world by students. You have all the time to type carping comments about the school why don’t you reach out and recognize the good things this school does. Most notably, raiseds the largest amount of money for children in the world and you can’t bother yourself enough to detail that fact. I think it is newsworthy to praise these kids for their accomplishements especially given nobody can say anything positive about the university. And yes, it is newsworthy. If you can constantly write about this and the cascading consequences of the event, it is only fair to also recognize the great efforts of the majority while you continue to focus on the minority.
Well hell. The students raised some money. I’m good! All is forgiven. All is forgotten. Drop the charges. And rest in peace coach. The PSU kids paid off everyone’s debt on this “misunderstanding”
If you report something, that you yourself did not see, to you supervisor how is that covering it up?
I don’t like it but you cannot ban someone from from the building if they were never charged/convicted. He has emeritius status and was not employed by Joe.
Just look at how the courts are dealing with Sandusky, they aren’t stopping him from seeing his grandkids b/c he has not been convicted, yet. It sucks but if someone has not been convicted you really cannot do anything.
Heck the Police (again the Police) in 1998 had him on tape sort of admitting stuff and they did not charge him.
Where is the MEDIA /ESPN claiming that the Police and AG’s office covered it up?? heck they had actual evidence in “98 that they could have leaked to the media. (to save other future victims)
All Paterno had was whatever McQuery told him and he gave that to his boss. Not perfect but not villian either.