Freeh report vs. Paterno's statements

Freeh report vs. Paterno's statements

Published Jul. 13, 2012 7:59 a.m. ET

Statements by and about Joe Paterno regarding Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse of children:

1998 SHOWER COMPLAINT, ACCORDING TO PATERNO

In January 2011, Paterno testified before a Pennsylvania grand jury about whether he knew of inappropriate conduct by Sandusky with young boys, beyond a 2001 shower incident reported to him by his assistant coach Mike McQueary. His answer to the grand jury: ''I do not know of anything else that Jerry would be involved in of that nature, no. I do not know of it.''

Weeks before his death in January, The Washington Post asked Paterno whether he knew of a 1998 investigation triggered when a woman complained Sandusky had showered with her son. Paterno replied: ''It wasn't like it was something everybody in the building knew about. Nobody knew about it.''

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1998 SHOWER COMPLAINT, ACCORDING TO THE FREEH REPORT

Tim Curley and Gary Schultz exchanged emails in May 1998. One, with the subject line ''Joe Paterno,'' read: ''I have touched base with the coach. Keep us posted.'' Another read: ''Anything new in this department? Coach is anxious to know where it stands.''

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2001 MCQUEARY REPORT, ACCORDING TO PATERNO

Before the grand jury, Paterno was asked if the 2001 McQueary report was relayed to any other university officials. His response: ''No, because I figured that Tim would handle it appropriately. ... I thought he would look into it and handle it appropriately.''

After his death, the Paterno family issued a written statement by Paterno that said he contacted Curley the day after speaking to McQueary. The statement read: ''That was the last time the matter was brought to my attention until this investigation and I assumed that the men I referred it to handled the matter appropriately.''

In January, shortly before died, the Post asked Paterno why didn't follow up more aggressively in 2001. Paterno said: ''I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was. So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did.''

2001 MCQUEARY REPORT, ACCORDING TO THE FREEH REPORT

Curley wrote an email to Schultz on Feb. 27, 2001, discussing contacting authorities. Curley wrote: ''After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe yesterday - I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps.''

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