Penn State Scandal: Pa. Governor Tom Corbett Says Joe Paterno Should Have Done More

PHILADELPHIA -- Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday that he wishes former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno had done more after telling university officials about child molestation accusations against one of his assistant coaches.

"I wish he would have followed up after he made that report," Corbett said Thursday.

A graduate assistant told Paterno in March 2002 that he had witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy in the university's athletic facilities. Paterno then relayed a version of that story to a Penn State administrator.

Sandusky later was charged with sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. He has maintained his innocence, acknowledging he showered with boys but saying he never molested them.

Paterno, who coached at Penn State for decades, said just before his firing in November that he wished he'd done more. He later described the abuse scandal as one of the great sorrows of his life. He died of lung cancer in January at age 85.

Corbett, a Republican, was involved in the Sandusky investigation as state attorney general before taking over as governor in January 2011. As governor, he sits on Penn State's board of trustees.

At a memorial service for Paterno, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight defended the former coach, saying that "if there is a villain in this tragedy, it lies in that investigation and not in Joe Paterno's response."

Corbett told WPVI that he's not sure what Knight meant.

"If there's a villain in this, in my belief, it's the man who's been charged with the crimes against the victims," Corbett said.

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Comments

[Ronald Lee]

12:54 AM on 04/12/2012

Corbett is so stupid. Joe Paterno was the Patron Saint of Penn State.

[IIIJFULLER]

07:04 PM on 03/12/2012

This situation is not funny; however, Gov. Tom Corbett, who never did more when he was the Attorney General, prior to becoming Gov., should be treated exactly like he treated the late Coach Paterno. Gov. Corbett is quick to point out that he wished Coach Paterno had "followed up after he made that report" to his boss in 2002. I wonder why the Attorney General at that time, did not follow-up with his boss, the past Governor of Pennsylvania prior to Gov. Corbett taking office. Gov. Corbett wants to be sorta a hero in getting Coach Paterno removed -- Gov. Corbett is not a hero in my book - Why or why did Gov. Corbett wait up to nine years to say anything negative about Coach Paterno and now he continues to say Coach Paterno should have done more. Why did Gov. Corbett wait all those years to do more? Why did he not follow-up with his Boss or others during those nine years? Personally, I believe Gov. Tom Corbett of PA should promptly remove himself from his current position as the Govenor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because he "should have done more" just like he accuses Coach Paterno of doing or not doing. Note: I voted for Gov. Corbett; however, I will not make that mistake again.

[Jim Gordon]

02:26 PM on 03/10/2012

Hmmmm, let's see. Gov. Tom says: Joe Paterno met his legal obligation. TC then adds: the PS board was right to fire Joe Paterno. So, in essense, our duly-elected official states: Joe Paterno did nothing wrong...Joe Paterno deserved to be fired. Does anyone else see that's a moronic conclusion? And, one might take note, it was done AFTER JoePa announced his resignation. What political advantage is there for the gov. to speak up at this late date and throw more mud on the memory of Mr. Paterno. Don't say 'none', please. B/C there's a political reason behind EVERYTHING a politician says...and does. Go Phils!

[Marcia75]

10:26 AM on 03/10/2012

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/26/bernstein-feds-on-penn-state-case-finally/

An EXCELLENT UPDATE to how the investigation is going.
God knows we're not going to get the straight truth.

[Whogivesafox]

10:12 PM on 03/09/2012

Corbett's a goner.

[WrongApeture]

09:50 PM on 03/09/2012

Maybe YOU should have done more, Corbett??

[driverstest]

08:40 PM on 03/09/2012

Sandusky is the villain; but too many did only what they had to and passed it on to the next group to deal with the allegations. This stirs up so much passion with Penn Staters and Paterno fans that the victims are lost and almost a forgotten part of the story. We all share the blame when we do not protect our young from predators.

[Rich Maletto]

04:05 PM on 03/09/2012

Corbett, before you start pointing the finger, ask yourself this question. Why did you choose to sit on this case for almost two years, and preferred to go after democratic leaders? What was more dangerous to the public? Seriously, you are speaking out of both sides of your mouth. You had real power to do something and chose not to as state attorney general. And this wasn't the first case. You seriously some how bring the term poitician to even lower level. You sir are part of the problem and should be on trial, you have done nothing but a disservice to those kids, and society as a whole. Karma will catch up, maybe you should have done your job instead of worring about being elected governor.

[Lacey66]

03:39 PM on 03/09/2012

Oh sure Corbett...blame the dead guy. Weren't you the PA Attorney General in the late 90's?? YOU should have done more you blatant hypocrite. I hope all of the bottom dwellers that are or were involved in this scandal get caught and hung.

[johnmarlin]

03:18 PM on 03/09/2012

Everybody duck! Here come the stonecasters!

[LBJAY02]

03:10 PM on 03/09/2012

In 2009 allegations were brought against Jerry Sandusky by Clinton County High School for molesting young boys at the school where Sandusky was a volunteer coach. At the time, charges were the responsibility of then Attorney General Tom Corbett. Corbett claims he put off the case because he had ties to the Sandusky family. Corbett had enough evidence to arrest Sandusky in 2009 but chose to wait. Ironically the Second Mile Foundation had donated over $640,000 to Corbett's political campaign including $200,000 for Corbett's 2010 race for Governor of Pennsylvania

[Marcia75]

10:20 AM on 03/10/2012

WOW. What a class act.

[kevmi16]

02:32 PM on 03/09/2012

Advice for a dead guy and from a politician no less.

[roscoewpa]

02:22 PM on 03/09/2012

If Corbett was investagating it what did he do? I have to many questions on this he was investigated on this before that attourney is dead as well as his brother. Was it related? Also why was Sandusky when he applied for other jobs denyed to work with children because of his record? What was on his record that he could work with some children but not fit to work with others? Something is not right with this whole story. What about the coach that walked in on Sandusky? I would have to say if i walked in on to concenting adults it would be one thing but he walked in on a adult and a child. If I walked in on this I'd be jobless but Sandusky wouldnt have faired well. I think there is a bigger cover up than we are aware of. Id like to know why this man is afforded the right of staying at home he should be in jail. He's a threat to children. I have a feeling people are going to get paid off and the story will go away.

[DrJon]

01:57 PM on 03/09/2012

Not true, he should have done something!

[williamj51]

01:51 PM on 03/09/2012

Corbett and the rest of the trustees didn't have the common decency to fire Coach Peterno face to face. This cowardly group did it over the telephone at 9:00 PM and than wondered why there was rioting on campus. This was probably the biggest group of cowards I have seen in one place at one time in my entire life. If this group of cowards are the best Penn State can do for trustees, than I can see why the school has major issues. I suspect that before this incident came to light, most of these trustees probably couldn't keep their noses out of Coach Paternos posterior.