Freeh Report on Penn State: Joe Paterno ‘Active in Decision to Conceal’ Sandusky Sexual Abuse

The Freeh Report into the child sexual abuse by former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, and the massive coverup of his crimes by the university was released today. The report is extremely disturbing and pretty much takes Penn State's late football coach Joe Paterno's legacy and squeezes every last remaining ounce of it and pours down the drain.

Despite claiming to not be aware of sexual abuse allegations in 1998 against Sandusky, the Freeh Report proves that Paterno was not only aware, but did nothing to stop Sandusky from continuing to bring young boys into Penn State facilities. Sandusky, who was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse last month, committed many of his sexual crimes on the PSU campus. The Freeh report suggests that had Paterno and the officials at Penn State who knew of the allegations against Sandusky barred him from campus, many cases of sexual abuse might have been prevented.

The report also slams Penn State President Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz. Together, with Paterno, these men conspired to keep Sandusky's crimes under wraps in order to keep bad publicity away from Penn State and the football program. A program run by Paterno for more than 60 years and was often referred to as doing it 'the right way.'

So much for that.

At the news conference this morning to announce the release of the 267 page report, compiled after an eight month investigation, former FBI Director Louis Freeh said Paterno 'was an integral part of this active decision to conceal.'

Unbelievably, Paterno's family still denies that he knew that Sandusky was raping boys. The family of JoePa said in a statement:

"The issue we have with some of the conclusions is that they represent a judgment on motives and intentions and we think this is impossible. We have said from the beginning that Joe Paterno did not know Jerry Sandusky was a child predator. Moreover, Joe Paterno never interfered with any investigation. He immediately and accurately reported the incident he was told about in 2001. "It can be argued that Joe Paterno should have gone further. He should have pushed his superiors to see that they were doing their jobs. We accept this criticism. At the same time, Joe Paterno and everyone else knew that Sandusky had been repeatedly investigated by authorities who approved his multiple adoptions and foster children. Joe Paterno mistakenly believed that investigators, law enforcement officials, University leaders and others would properly and fully investigate any issue and proceed as the facts dictated. "This didn't happen and everyone shares the responsibility."

Sandusky is in prison waiting on sentencing.