STATE COLLEGE – A new report commissioned by Joe Paterno’s family challenges the conclusion by former FBI director Louis Freeh that the late Penn State coach conspired to conceal child sex abuse allegations against retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
An executive summary of the critique released Sunday said the “observations” of Paterno by Freeh in July were unfounded. The team reviewing Freeh’s work included former U.S. Attorney General and Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh, who called the report fundamentally flawed and incomplete, resulting in a “rush to injustice.”
Former FBI director Louis Freeh is standing by his conclusion that former Penn State coach Joe Paterno and three top administrators concealed child sex abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky.
Freeh responded Sunday to a new critique released by Paterno’s family.
Freeh says in a statement he respects the right of the Paterno family to conduct a media campaign in an effort “to shape the legacy of Joe Paterno” but the coach should have done more to stop Sandusky.
Freeh cited grand jury testimony in which Paterno said a graduate assistant relayed to him a 2001 allegation against Sandusky of a “sexual nature” with a child.
He said Paterno’s attorney was contacted for an interview with the coach, who died in January 2012.
The family released was what billed as an exhaustive response on paterno.com. It called Freeh’s report a disservice to Paterno, the university community and Sandusky’s victims.
Freeh’s findings were cited by the NCAA when college sports’ governing body levied unprecedented sanctions against the football program for the Sandusky scandal.
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