Penn State's Former President Says He Was Abused As A Child, Too

The Paternos aren't the only ones furiously pleading someone's innocence in the Jerry Sandusky matter. Former PSU president Graham Spanier has now sent a letter to the school's board of trustees that accuses the Freeh report of being biased. The , which includes this paragraph:

"It is unfathomable and illogical to think that a respected family sociologist and family therapist, someone who experienced massive and persistent abuse as a child, someone who devoted a significant portion of his career to the welfare of children and youth, including service on the boards of four such organizations, two as chair of the board, would have knowingly turned a blind eye to any report of child abuse or predatory sexual acts directed at children. As I have stated in the clearest possible terms, at no time during my presidency did anyone ever report to me that Jerry Sandusky was observed abusing a child or youth or engaged in a sexual act with a child or youth."

Spanier also said he did not keep the trustees briefed on the nature of the grand jury proceedings against Sandusky because Cynthia Baldwin, the university counsel, had told him "very little about how she was handling the Grand Jury investigation." He further said Baldwin had repeatedly told him "there appeared to be no issue for the university." Spanier has not been charged with a crime, but his letter is just the latest indication that the upcoming perjury trial of former PSU administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz promises to be a shitshow of blame-shifting.

Former PSU President Graham Spanier says he was a child-abuse victim, wouldn't have 'turned a blind eye' to others [Patriot-News]