Uncovering the coverup: New emails tie Paterno and others at PSU to hiding Sandusky's crimes

Harrisburg, Pa. --The fallout from Jerry Sandusky's decades-long sexual abuse of children is still being felt around the halls of Penn State, the surrounding community and beyond.

Newly released emails point to a series of cover-ups among those in positions of power at the university and as the convicted retired football coach/mentor sits in jail awaiting sentencing, others will have to answer to some very important questions: the who, when, where, why and what of this sickening scandal covered up for more than 15 years.

According to a CNN expose' by Susan Candiotti, these four emails between Penn State's then-president Graham Spanier, vice-president Gary Shultz and the athletics director Tim Curley discussed the 2001 shower incident where assistant coach Mike McQueary said he saw Sandusky sexually assaulting a small boy.

The report stated that the first email was dated Feb. 26, 2001, 16 days after McQueary reported the shower abuse to his boss, the late head coach Joe Paterno. He also testified to telling Curley and Shultz what he saw in graphic details, "the small boy with his hands up against the wall and Sandusky behind him." The emails reportedly did not mention Sandusky by name, instead they referred to him as "the subject," and "person."

VP Shultz sent a three part solution to AD Curley, outlining a plan of action in dealing with what McQueary had told them. This plan allegedly included: (1) a "Talk with the 'subject', (2) "contacting the charitable organization" (Second Mile) and (3) "contacting the Department of Welfare."

However, the next night, Curley seemed to have a change of heart and polished off an email to President Spanier, allegedly referring to a conversation they had two days ago about Sandusky. He now wanted to "talk things over" with Sandusky before going to Child Welfare.

Curley also referred to Paterno, reportedly writing, "After giving it more thought and talking it over with Paterno yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps. I am having trouble going to everyone but the person involved." I would be more comfortable meeting with the person..tell him about the information we received..and tell him we are aware of the first situation."

Did Paterno cause this change of heart, talking Curley out of going to the proper authorities?

The "first situation" referred to another incident back in 1998, where Sandusky was again caught in the shower with another child. Nothing was done about that either, but both cases of molestation were included in his recent 45 convictions of child sexual abuse.

Curley's email also stated what he was going to say to Sandusky on meeting with him. "We feel there is a problem" and would offer "professional help" and "at some point soon to inform his organization...maybe the other one." According to CNN, sources close to the emails say "the other one" referred to here is Child Welfare.

Curley's email continued to outline his new plan of action and reportedly wrote that if Sandusky was cooperative, "we would work with him..if not, we do not have a choice and will inform the two groups," meaning his charity Second Mile and Child Welfare.

Two hours later Penn State president Spanier responded with his email, allegedly writing, "I am supportive" but the "only downside for us is if the message isn't heard and acted upon and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it. But that can be assessed down the road." Spanier added that this alternative plan was a "humane and a reasonable way to proceed."

The next day VP Shultz allegedly sent off his email to Spanier and Athletics Director Curley, agreeing that "This is a more humane and upfront way to handle this. We will inform his organization with or without his cooperation..we can play it by ear to decide about the other organization."

We now know none of that happened and Sandusky was never reported to the police or Child Welfare. Did they contact Second Mile? If they did, there is no evidence that officials there did anything either. This stunning cover-up by school officials is sickening. Sandusky went on to molest at least four other boys after these top Penn State officials decided to play protector to a pedophile rather than to innocent children.

A reasonable way to proceed? This makes these top officials, Spanier, Curley, Shultz and Paterno even more monstrous than Sandusky, for they knowingly sat on information that they had a child sexual predator in their midst and not once did they think of the innocent children; not once did they mention the victims being hurt and damaged. Moreover, they let him continue to have contact with children and did absolutely nothing to stop that other monster. How did they sleep at night?

The 85-year-old legendary coach Paterno was fired soon after Sandusky was arrested early November, and so was Penn's president Spanier, but neither was criminally charged. Paterno lost his battle with cancer a few months later, on January 22, and got a hero's send off, with students rioting at the university as a result of his firing. His family will reportedly collect half a million dollars annually in pension. Curley and Shultz were charged for their role in the cover-up but no one at Second Mile was charged.