Joseph Amendola Statement: Lawyer For Ex-Penn State Coach Speaks After Waiving Hearing (VIDEO)

After former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky waived his preliminary hearing in his child sex abuse case, his lawyer, Joseph Amendola, spoke at great length to reporters outside of the courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa.

"We're ready to defend, we've always been ready to defend," Amendola said to a large press contingent. "Today's waiver has nothing to do with conceding anything. There have been no plea negotiations. There will be no plea negotiations. This is a fight to the death. This is the fight of Jerry Sandusky's life. This goes beyond the Penn State-Miami in '86. This is the game of his life."

Among the many aspects of the case that Amendola discussed was the credibility of Mike McQueary, who allegedly witnessed Sandusky abusing a 10-year-old boy at a Penn State facility in 2002. A graduate assistant at the time, McQueary later became a wide receivers coach for the Nittany Lions and is a key witness in the case.

"As most of you know, the credibility of Mike McQueary has been put into great question prior to today with various statements he allegedly has made," Amendola said. "Having realized that Mike McQueary's credibility was already a grave issue, we decided that -- when we looked at the strategy that we wish to apply in this case -- that it would make a lot more sense to waive this hearing and process with our defense."

Later, Amendola claimed that Sandusky has been "victimized" by the media and he had to appear in national media because so many think he is guilty.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation of Amendola's freewheeling media session was the claim that "Victim 9," who testified to the new charges brought against Sandusky last week in a five-page report, had attended a football game with the former coach this fall. Amendola questioned why some of the alleged victims in the case maintained a relationship with Sandusky after the alleged abuse.

Here's more from Amendola's statement: