Pushing for answers in Corbett's involvement in Sandusky case.

[Pat Riot]

It’s time to investigate Corbett’s role in the Sandusky scandal

The repercussions of the Jerry Sandusky crimes keep adding up.

Thankfully, Jerry Sandusky was found guilty and will never be free to rape children again.
The Freeh Report revealed the culpability of the leadership at Penn State where some have lost their jobs and others are facing criminal prosecution for their roles in the cover-up.
Earlier this week the Penn State football program received unprecedented penalties by the NCAA.

We can argue the appropriateness of the level of punishment, but at least people are finally being held accountable for their roles in the Sandusky rapes and cover-up.

But one person has not held accountable—Tom Corbett. In both his role as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and as Governor, Corbett apparently had numerous opportunities to stop Sandusky that he didn’t take. I say apparently, because he refuses to answer questions about what he did or didn’t do. When a reporter has the audacity to raise questions, Corbett indignantly blusters and threateningly chastises the questioner.

That is probably why no one has called for an investigation into Corbett’s role—until now.

Since Corbett has not been forthcoming, Keystone Progress is requesting that PA Attorney General Linda Kelly, Senate President Pro tem Joseph Scarnati and Speaker of the House Samuel Smith begin a formal investigation into Corbett’s role in the Sandusky scandal.

The major question that needs to be answered is why did Corbett wait years to get Sandusky off the street? I’ve talked to four prosecutors and asked them when they would have arrested Sandusky. Each of them said they would have arrested him immediately after hearing the testimony of an eye witness. Each of them said the first priority is to stop the rape of children by getting him off the street. The investigation can continue after he’s locked up. None of them could understand why Corbett waited years to have Sandusky arrested.

That still begs the question. Why did Corbett wait so long?

Chris Freind, one of the most conservative columnists in Pennsylvania, summarizes it this way:

“One of two things seems to be true, as there is no third option. Either A) you were an incompetent attorney general, which virtually no one believes, or B) the investigation was deliberately understaffed and drawn out because you did not wish to be the gubernatorial candidate who took down fabled Penn State - with its massive and intensely loyal alumni network - and the beloved Joe Paterno. Since doing so would have presented difficult campaign challenges, many are asking if politics was placed above children’s safety.”

Friend is right. Those are the only two options. If Corbett is simply a bumbling Governor and Attorney General, the people will take care of that in 2014.

If, however, Corbett intentionally kept a child rapist on the street to further his political career, it is morally reprehensible and probably criminal.

That’s why we’re calling on Pennsylvania’s law enforcement and legislative leaders to conduct an independent investigation into Corbett’s role as Attorney General and Governor.

We are under no illusions about asking Republicans to investigate Corbett. There’s not much chance they will put politics aside and do the right thing. But we have to hope that they will do just that. In a state dominated by one party we have no other choice. If they don’t respond, we’ll try other avenues.





http://keystoneprogress.pnstate.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=21140&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&AddInterest=2001

[LynneSin]

1. Tom Corbett would have lost the 2010 election if he pissed off Penn State voters

That's why he did the absolute minimum to investigate this report.

Pennsylvania is a tough win knowing that 70-80% of Philalphia and a very large majority in Pittsburgh are going to vote democrat. Republicans need to make up the votes in the T-Zone of Pennsylvania a region in which is the heart of Penn State Football fans.

There are fans still outraged over what happened to Joe Paterno and the Penn State football program. You think they would have voted for Tom Corbett if he was the cause of this demise?

[drm604]

2. Absolutely correct.

A lot of people in this state are blindly supportive of Penn State football.

Sports mania is something I've never understood. And lately I've been happy that I don't.

[Pat Riot]

3. The flow of money

One hand washing the other, as members of the Second Mile board contributed to Corbett, who in turn granted millions back to Second Mile.

[DennisRoddy]

5. Conspiracy Theories

Sorry guys, but the more people promote these conspiracy theories the sillier the Dems end up looking. Four different agencies received complaints about Jerry Sandusky since 1998. All of them passed on the case.

When it went to Corbett, he took it in front of a grand jury and built a case based on every witness they could find. Sandusky was found guilty on 45 counts.

Read what an actual sex abuse survivor had to say about Corbett's role:

http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-19/news/32731243_1_jerry-sandusky-case-ben-andreozzi-serial-child-predator

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. That Opinion piece fails to mention when Corbett took this case to a Grand Jury.

You have links to Corbett's GJ investigation?

[DURHAM D]

7. What four agencies?

And on another note - the OP article fails to mention that Corbett had three roles in this matter as he is also on the Board of Regents for Penn State.

[Raster]

8. I have found that whenever someone starts slinging around "conspiracy theories,"...

....that means to dig deeper, look further and do not be swayed.

"Sorry guys, but the more people promote these conspiracy theories the sillier the Dems end up looking." Gosh, when did I hear that last? I know, the run-up to the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Welcome to DU.

[LynneSin]

9. Really?

Last edited Wed Aug 1, 2012, 08:39 AM - Edit history (1)

The Governor is far from an innocent bystander. As the state’s attorney general in 2009, Corbett headed a state investigation into accusations against the revered former coach. Although his office denies it, there are multiple confirmations that Corbett assigned no one from his office to follow up on the charges: just one state trooper, a state trooper “not authorized to bring charges against Sandusky.” In addition, when Corbett was sworn in as governor in 2011, he still had not informed Thae Second Mile Foundation that their founder was under investigation. Instead, as a candidate for governor, he took $650,000 in donations from members of the Second Mile’s unknowing board, even allowing their chairman to hold a fundraiser for his campaign. Upon being elected, Corbett then moved deftly from doing nothing to immediately try to deflect the entire weight of the scandal onto Joe Paterno and Penn State itself, using his recently appointed position as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees (an automatic appointment for all Pennsylvania Governors) to do so.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/168853/shocking-truth-about-joe-paterno-penn-state-and-governor-tom-corbett#

Edit note:

You know what is the absolute worst about all of this - Corbett could have been the savior in all of this. He could have put the manpower into the Sandusky case back in 2008 and brought the university out with barely a scratch. He could have made Joe Paterno look like a hero even if Paterno knew. Corbett had that kind of power - Sandusky wasn't coaching for Penn State nor was running Second Mile Charity anymore and he was doing Second Mile events at locations outside of Penn State main campus. Tom Corbett could have brought Sandusky in and PSU Football would still have those 110+ wins on their record book.

[Pat Riot]

10. props for posting under your real name

Correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/SlagHeap/archives/2011/02/01/post-gazettes-dennis-roddy-to-leave-take-job-in-corbett-administration

[DURHAM D]

11. Great find...

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. One would think that someone with decades in "communications"

would have found a source actually associating Corbett with leading (or even INITIATING) a Grand Jury before claiming that as a fact and taking credit for the convictions.

The Corbett administration does know that the internet works elsewhere in the US, not just Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, right?

[LynneSin]

13. Damn you're good

Really Really good!



Team Corbett is running scared that the truth will come out!

[Raster]

14. Right on, Pat!

You won't be corrected, because YOU AREN'T WRONG!

[JPZenger]

16. Roddy

Roddy was always famous for having received lots of exclusive scoops and leaks from the Corbett Campaign, while he was covering that campaign for the Post-Gazette. Then, surprise surprise, he gets a cushy job with the Corbett administration right after the election. This was at a time when plenty of 57 year old reporters were being pushed out the doors of major newspapers.

Coincidence???

[JPZenger]

17. Here's leaks AG Corbett fed Pittsburgh reporter Roddy during Gov.race, before Gov. Corbett hired him

http://casablancapa.blogspot.com/2011/02/just-old-fashioned-legwork.html

[Pat Riot]

18. Yep, "surprise surprise" ha ha ha.

By "famous" you mean infamous I think.
Dennis Roddy is a recognized name to anyone around my age in this area (Pittsburgh.) Wonder why he didn't use an alias.

[malthaussen]

4. The victims were the last thing anyone cared about.

However flawed one wants to call the Freeh report, that conclusion is inescapable. And there's nothing new, there. For all the outrage people express about abuse -- when they aren't involved -- it is amazing how quickly families and institutions run to man the barricades, close their eyes, and either ignore or blame the victims. How often are six and seven year old girls accused of "enticing" their abusers? It is to weep.

-- Mal

[LynneSin]

15. NO way Tom Corbett was going to alienated voters who were Penn State fans

not before his election for governor.