Penn State emails point to alleged Sandusky cover-up in 2001

CNN has obtained information regarding alleged emails between several former high-ranking Penn State officials in 2001 that point to an attempted cover-up of an alleged incident of sexual abuse by Jerry Sandusky.

In the emails, Penn State President Graham Spanier, Vice President Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley discuss the locker-room shower incident in which graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky sexually assaulting a young boy. They became aware of the incident when they were notified by Joe Paterno, who got the information from McQueary. Neither McQueary nor Paterno went to law enforcement.

Initially, Schultz allegedly suggested confronting Sandusky, informing his Second Mile charity and the “Department of Welfare.” However, Curley evidently exhibited second thoughts the next day after “talking it over with Joe (Paterno),” allegedly emailing Spanier about talking the accusation over with Sandusky. He adds that they should offer Sandusky “professional help,” and if he wasn’t cooperative they would report him to Second Mile and child welfare services. Interestingly, Sandusky is not referred to by name in any of the exchanges but instead as “the subject” or “the person.”

Spanier responded with his support of Curley’s idea, calling it “humane and a reasonable way to proceed,” but ironically acknowledged the risk they were taking by not contacting authorities. Schultz later chimed in with his agreement, adding that they can “play it by ear” when it comes to notifying children’s welfare.

But as we know now, they never reported Sandusky.